This year’s MENASOL on the 16th and 17th of May in Abu Dhabi, offers something even more special!
MENASOL is the annual meet-up of solar opinion leaders, experts and financing personnel that has grown by leaps and bounds each year with the burgeoning growth of MENA region (Middle East & North Africa) solar and Desertec. The speakers list for MENASOL 2012 is a virtual who’s who of the critical mass of movers and shakers in clean solar energy for the 21st century.
Unlike the typical large unstructured expo, this unusual annual get together offers the solar industry the chance to meet and do business with potential connections directly, under one roof over 2 days in a solar market now developing rapidly in the MENA region.
On May 16th and 17th, Masdar, CSP Today and PV Insider are offering delegates the unique opportunity to visit both the Masdar City’s 10MW PV Plant, and Masdar’s first 100 MW solar project: Shams 1, which is ten times larger.
This is an opportunity to tour a solar project which is not just the largest parabolic trough power station in the MENA region – but among the largest in the world.
It uses concentrated solar-thermal power technology, that drives a steam turbine with a solar-heated liquid.
The $600 million Shams 1 project is being built by Spain’s Abengoa Solar in the western region of Abu Dhabi. It is expected to be complete by August, and visits will be in mid May, through MENASOL2012 (16th and 17th May). It is jointly owned by Masdar (60 per cent), Total of France and Abengoa Solar.
For solar fans, this will be a thrilling chance to see this planet’s dazzling clean energy future up close. This stunning project’s 258,048 parabolic trough mirrors, 192 solar collector assembly loops, 768 solar collector assembly units, and 27,648 absorber pipes are what 21st century clean energy production will look like – if we’re lucky!
Powered by the blinding desert sun, Shams 1 will displace approximately 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 each year, which is equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or removing 15,000 cars from Abu Dhabi roads.
Masdar’s other, smaller solar project, the 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power station at the edge of Masdar City, will also be on the tour agenda. Even this is the largest solar PV project built to date in the Middle East, and is expected to produce 17,500MWh of clean electricity annually.
Interestingly, it is solar PV, like Masdar’s second huge 100 MW project is to be, so it will be interesting to learn why Masdar is going with PV for its Nour 1 solar project.
Both site visits are being arranged in conjunction with MENASOL 2012, so seize the opportunity to visit these two landmark plants in Abu Dhabi. To find out more info, visit the website: www.csptoday.com/menasol or contact event organizer Max Crompton ([email protected])
Related:
Masdar’s first 100 MW solar project: Shams 1
Masdar Calls for Bids For A Second 100 MW Solar Project
China’s Suntech is Among Masdar’s Solar Bids for Nour 1
