The Finance World Magazine| Edition: April 2023

EWEC’s Mirfa 2 Project: Another Groundbreaking
Initiative Propelling UAE to the
Forefront of Sustainable Development
The Mirfa 2 project is a significant undertaking in the United Arab Emirates aimed
at advancing the country’s sustainable development objectives. The Emirates
Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is responsible for the project, which is
expected to be one of the largest solar power plants ever constructed. Located
in Abu Dhabi, the project will have a capacity of 2 GW, and its development
will consist of more than 5 million solar panels spread across an area of
approximately 8 square kilometres. Once operational, it is predicted to generate
enough electricity to power 160,000 UAE households and reduce yearly carbon
dioxide emissions by 3.6 million tonnes.
The Mirfa 2 initiative marks
a notable milestone for the
UAE’s energy sector as it
demonstrates the country’s
commitment to transitioning to a more
sustainable energy mix. Additionally,
it aligns with the UAE’s objective of
reducing its carbon emissions and
emerging as a global leader in renewable
energy. By investing in renewable
energy projects like Mirfa 2, the UAE
is positioning itself as a key player in
the global shift towards cleaner and
greener energy.
It is expected that the project will
not only promote sustainability but also
bring significant economic benefits.
During the construction phase, the
initiative is predicted to create job
opportunities for thousands of workers
in the UAE while also fostering the
growth of the local solar energy sector.
The UAE’s leadership in renewable
energy is likely to attract more
investment, supporting the country’s
broader economic diversification goals.
The project’s capacity of 2 GW and
more than 5 million solar panels will
make it one of the largest solar power
plants globally. It is expected to produce
clean and renewable energy, capable
of powering approximately 160,000
homes in the UAE and reducing yearly
carbon dioxide emissions by 3.6 million
tonnes. Along with the solar power
With its capacity
of 2 GW and
over 5 million
solar panels,
the project will
rank among the
world’s largest
solar power
plants.
plant, the initiative also incorporates
a separate reverse osmosis (RO) water
project, which aims to enhance the
water supply stability in Abu Dhabi
Emirate by utilizing RO technology
to desalinate saltwater, generating
up to 150 million imperial gallons of
water per day.
In addition, the Mirfa 2 initiative will
make a considerable contribution to the
ongoing cost-reduction efforts in the
water industry by adopting economical
and efficient RO water desalination
technology. The project’s location will
be approximately 110 kilometres to the
west of Abu Dhabi, in close proximity
to the existing Mirfa Plant.
The Mirfa 2 project features stateof-the-art
equipment such as Siemens
SGT5-4000F gas turbines, Siemens
SST5-4000 steam turbines, and a 120
MW solar field consisting of over
880,000 photovoltaic panels. Moreover,
the development of the M2 RO water
desalination project has enabled EWEC
to make significant strides towards its
strategic objective of separating water
desalination operations from power
production. This project is expected
to play a crucial role in achieving the
objectives of the UAE Net Zero by 2050
strategic initiative and the UAE Water
Security Plan 2036.
The primary source of fuel for the
power plant is natural gas, which
is procured from local suppliers
in the UAE. During daylight hours,
the solar field generates renewable
energy, thereby decreasing the plant’s
reliance on fossil fuels. The Mirfa 2
project is designed to comply with
global environmental regulations,
including the Equator Principles and
the Performance Standards of the
April 2023 www.thefinanceworld.com 37