Updated: March 17, 2013, 12:00 AM
In pictures: Abu Dhabi's Dh2.2 billion solar power plant
Madinat Zayed, United Arab Emirates, February 27, 2013: Shams 1 solar power station near Madinat Zayed on February 27, 2013. The power station is capable of generating 100 megawatts (MW) of power, approximately enough to power 20,000 homes, which makes it among the largest parabolic trough stations in the world. Christopher Pike / The National
Shams 1 feeds 100 megawatts of green electricity into the grid, generated by its huge curved mirrors that cover 2.5 square kilometres of desert near the town of Madinat Zayed.
The largest solar array in the Middle East, in a remote corner of Abu Dhabi, is a major step for the UAE towards a renewable energy future.
The plant is a joint venture between Masdar, the French oil company Total and the Spanish solar player Abengoa.
The Shams 1 concentrated solar plant (CSP) is the UAE's first solar plant. Pictures by Christopher Pike / The National
Performance engineer, Abdilaziz Al Obaidi, at the Shams 1 plant.
Shams 1 is among the largest parabolic trough stations in the world.
Yousif Al Ali, the Shams 1 general manager, in front of the plant's curved mirrors.
The Shams 1 plant is the first in a series of renewable energy projects that will produce 7 per cent of Abu Dhabi's electricity by 2020, according to government plans.