Floating solar attracts strong interest from land-poor states
Dubai nears floating solar debut
Both the emirate and neighbouring Abu Dhabi are considering the potential of the novel technology
State-owned Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) received bids in mid-April for a contract to install the emirate’s first floating solar photovoltaic (PV) plant—two months after a private developer in neighbouring Abu Dhabi commissioned the first in the UAE as a whole. Offshore solar remains a fledgling industry worldwide but is gathering momentum. And land-poor, sun-rich Mid-East Gulf states have strong incentives for its adoption. The coincidence of the twin landmarks in the two biggest emirates, though incidental, is typical of their fruitful decade-old rivalry in chasing their own as well as federal clean energy targets—to the extent that both have become international leaders
Also in this section
24 January 2025
Progress on the energy transition has slowed or even stopped, with greater societal engagement we can revitalise it
23 January 2025
The return of Donald Trump gives further evidence of ‘big oil’ as an investable asset, with the only question being whether anyone is really surprised
21 January 2025
The new president must put his cards on the table and tell the American people, and the world, if the US is formally abandoning the energy transition
14 January 2025
Bioenergy will be a key part of the energy transition as the world decarbonises, and Brazil is set to be a major player in the sector
