Abu Dhabi Airports, the owner and operator of the emirate’s five airports, and Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies have completed the largest solar-powered car park in the emirate.
The new facility, which has a total capacity of 3 megawatts is installed on the car shading at the short-term car park of the Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport, with 7,542 solar panels producing electricity.
The energy generated by the grid-connected project will be used to power the car parking area, with excess energy fed to other sections of the airport. The facility is estimated to save 5,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Shareef Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “Net-zero development has been a central ethos in the design and construction of the Midfield Terminal. By making smart and sustainable choices during its development in our use of double glazing, efficient lighting, and environmental controls, we have achieved considerable reductions across the building’s wider energy use.”
Masdar’s Energy Services department provided a full turnkey solution for the project, including financing, design, procurement and construction. Under the terms of the lease agreement, Masdar will also provide operation and maintenance services for 25-year.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi CEO – Masdar
“The delivery of this landmark project for the new Midfield Terminal highlights the commitment of Masdar and Abu Dhabi Airports to supporting the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 and its climate change mitigation goals, as well as demonstrating Masdar’s strength as a preferred partner in renewable energy project collaborations.”
The UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the percentage of clean energy in the country’s energy mix to 50 percent. The amount of power generated by renewable energy in the country will increase to 21 percent in 2030 and to 44 percent by 2050, from 7 percent last year, according to Rystad Energy.
Abu Dhabi Airports was created in 2006 to develop Abu Dhabi’s aviation infrastructure and it currently manages and operates five airports in the emirate. It is also building the Midfield Terminal, the new hub for UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways at Abu Dhabi International Airport, with a capacity to handle 45 million passengers annually.
