Modelling the Economic Viability of Utility Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants in Abu Dhabi: A Spatial Techno Assessment

Abstract

Energy demand in the UAE is characterized by high growth rates mainly driven by a growing economy, increasing population, high income levels, and heavy dependence on water desalination. This leads to an increasing pressure on the country’s fossil fuel reserves and contributes to the high carbon footprint of the UAE. In this respect, Abu Dhabi is seeking to diversify its energy mix, and by 2020, aspires to have 7% of its energy coming from renewable energy (RE) sources. RE currently accounts for the majority of capacity additions in the power generation sector, and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are undergoing significant growth as well. Through its reducing costs and increasing efficiencies, PV is becoming an attractive energy generation option, especially in countries endowed with high solar irradiation levels such as the UAE. This study assesses the economic viability of the deployment of utility solar PV power plants in Abu Dhabi, over a range of spatial dimensions and technological parameters. In particular, the levelized cost of electricity is modeled for PV systems in Abu Dhabi across several variations (locations, technologies, capacities, mounting options, inverter to array ratios, and tilt angles). Moreover, the study determines the economically optimal mix of PV utility plants, over the same variables that would constitute 7% of the energy mix in Abu Dhabi by 2020.

Date of Award	Dec 2014
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Mohamed Hosni Ghedira (Supervisor)