Renewable Energy Landscape
The UAE has established itself as the Gulf region’s most aggressive deployer of renewable energy infrastructure. The National Energy Strategy 2050, updated following COP28 in late 2023, targets a clean energy share of 44% of the total power generation mix by 2050, with interim milestones demanding significant near-term capacity additions.
Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company, operates as the primary development vehicle alongside independent power producer (IPP) partnerships with international firms. Dubai’s DEWA and the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority also pursue emirate-level renewable programs.
Installed Capacity Growth
| Year | Solar PV (GW) | CSP (GW) | Wind (GW) | Total Renewable (GW) | % of Power Mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 7% |
| 2021 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 9% |
| 2022 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4.6 | 12% |
| 2023 | 5.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 5.8 | 14% |
| 2024 | 6.4 | 0.7 | 0.03 | 7.1 | 16% |
| 2025 | 7.8 | 0.7 | 0.03 | 8.5 | 18% |
| 2030 (target) | 12.0+ | 1.0 | 0.5 | 14.2 | 30% |
Solar photovoltaic capacity dominates the renewable portfolio, reflecting the UAE’s exceptional solar irradiance levels averaging 2,120 kWh/m2 annually. Concentrated solar power (CSP) plays a smaller but strategically important role in providing dispatchable renewable generation.
Flagship Projects
Al Dhafra Solar PV (Abu Dhabi)
- Capacity: 2 GW
- Status: Fully operational since mid-2023
- Tariff: Record-low $0.0135/kWh at tender award
- Partners: Masdar, TAQA, EDF Renewables, JinkoPower
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (Dubai)
- Capacity: 5 GW planned, approximately 3.5 GW operational
- Phases: Five phases with Phase V under development
- Features: Includes the 950 MW Noor Energy 1 CSP-PV hybrid
Emerging Wind Assets
The UAE’s first commercial wind farm at Sir Bani Yas Island (30 MW) began feeding power to the grid in late 2024. While wind resources are modest compared to solar, coastal and offshore wind assessments are underway for sites in the Arabian Gulf with capacity factors estimated at 25-30%.
Levelized Cost of Energy Trends
| Technology | 2020 LCOE ($/MWh) | 2023 LCOE ($/MWh) | 2025 LCOE ($/MWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility Solar PV | 16.9 | 14.2 | 12.8 |
| CSP with Storage | 73.0 | 62.0 | 55.0 |
| Onshore Wind | 42.0 | 38.0 | 35.0 |
| Gas CCGT (comparator) | 48.0 | 52.0 | 50.0 |
Solar PV in the UAE now produces electricity at roughly one-quarter the cost of new-build gas-fired generation, fundamentally altering the economic logic of power sector planning.
Grid Integration Challenges
Scaling intermittent renewable generation introduces technical challenges that the UAE is addressing through several mechanisms:
- Battery Energy Storage: DEWA commissioned a 300 MWh lithium-ion storage facility at the solar park in 2024; EWEC is tendering 1 GWh of grid-scale storage for Abu Dhabi
- Smart Grid Upgrades: Transco has invested $2.1 billion in transmission network modernization to handle bidirectional power flows
- Demand Response Programs: Industrial load-shifting programs managed through the demand-side management framework reduce peak requirements
Investment Flows
Cumulative renewable energy investment in the UAE surpassed $40 billion by end of 2025, with annual deployment spending averaging $5-6 billion. Masdar’s global portfolio, which now exceeds 30 GW of assets across 40 countries, serves as both a commercial platform and a diplomatic instrument, extending UAE clean energy influence globally.
Outlook
The 2030 interim target of 14.2 GW of clean energy capacity requires sustained annual additions of approximately 1.5 GW. Current project pipelines and tenders suggest this pace is achievable, though supply chain bottlenecks for solar panels and battery systems, grid interconnection timelines, and land allocation in Abu Dhabi’s western region remain key execution risks. The UAE’s hosting of COP28 intensified political commitment to accelerating deployment, with energy sector leadership treating the 2030 targets as a minimum rather than a ceiling.