Sharjah opened today “SANA,” the first solar power plant in the emirate. This new facility covers a large area of 850,000 square meters and is located next to the Sajaa Gas Plant. It can produce 60 megawatts of energy.
The solar power plant project is being developed with the support of the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC). This initiative is a collaboration between the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) and Emerge, a partnership between the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and the French company EDF Group. Emerge has been chosen to oversee the operation of the plant.
Emirate steps up sustainable energy efforts
At the opening ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Petroleum Department, and Chairman of SNOC, highlighted that launching Sharjah’s first solar power plant marks an important step forward in the emirate’s quest for sustainable energy.
Sheikh Sultan also emphasized that this initiative is part of the broader goals of the emirate’s Energy Council, which focuses on planning for the future of energy and water in the region. The project also reflects Sharjah’s dedication to protecting the environment and its focus on using clean and renewable energy. He also highlighted that the project is a great example of how teamwork and innovation can help create a greener and more sustainable future.
For his part, Khamis Al Mazrouei, CEO of SNOC, highlighted that the shift to using renewable energy is no longer just a choice; it’s something that must be done to keep up with the fast changes happening in the energy world. He pointed out that the leaders at SNOC are committed to making this transition a key part of their strategy, aiming to move towards a more sustainable and responsible way of operating
Al Mazrouei talked about the start of a solar power project back in 2018. It began with a small solar power plant, built at the Hamriyah LNG terminal, with a capacity to produce 300 kilowatts of energy. This facility was designed to power operations using clean energy, marking the first step toward what would eventually become the larger SANA solar power plant in the Sajaa area.
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Plant to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 66,000 tons annually
The Deputy Ruler of Sharjah officially launched the solar power plant by pressing the inauguration button, marking the beginning of its operations. After that, he took a tour of the site to explore the various facilities and features of SANA’s plant. The plant is the largest in Sharjah and is notable for being the first to utilize renewable energy to power the emirate’s oil and natural gas facilities.
Additionally, it is one of the first plants in the world designed to not only supply its own electricity needs but also to export any extra power it generates.
During the tour, Sheikh Sultan was updated on the stages of the 60-megawatt SANA solar power plant project. This facility can produce clean energy that would be enough to power about 13,780 homes each year. By doing this, it helps to lower carbon dioxide emissions by 66,000 tons annually, contributing to a cleaner environment.
The plant features 13,000 flexible poles that can move to follow the sun’s path, maximizing energy collection. These poles support over 98,000 solar panels, working together to harness solar power efficiently.
