GW Al Dhafra PV2, the largest solar power plant: details of the project
The largest solar power plant will appear in the UAE; about $1 billion has already been allocated for the project. The complex is called GW Al Dhafra PV2, it is owned by several local energy companies, while the French corporation EDF Renewables and the Chinese Jinko Power HK own 20% each.
The uniqueness of the project lies not only in its scale, but also in its functionality. GW Al Dhafra PV2 will be the first solar power plant to use double-sided photovoltaic panels. They allow capturing light that is not only directed from the sky, but also that reflected from the surface of the earth.
It is assumed that the new solar power plant will occupy an area of 20 square kilometers in the desert. This area will house 4 million photovoltaic modules. The large-scale power plant is located near the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
The project is financed by the bank holding BNP Paribas, which is processing applications for the purchase of shares of the complex. Apart from the group, the bookrunners are Crédit Agricole, Banking Corporation and others. 
The largest solar power plant is planned to be put into operation in 2022.
At the moment, the largest solar power generation complex is considered to be Benban Solar Park in Egypt. It was built in 2019 in the Sahara Desert and covers 37 square kilometers. Here, the area is divided into 32 separate sites, housing about 6 million photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 1.5 GW. The capacity of the plant is enough to provide more than 100 thousand homes with electricity. It is assumed that by 2022, thanks to the Benban complex, about 20% of the country’s electricity will be generated by RES facilities.
Investments in the power plant amounted to $500 million; organizations from various countries, including the World Bank Group and MIGA, an agency that deals with investments and guarantees, took part in the implementation of the project.
Another large-scale solar power plant operates in China. It has a capacity of 2.2 GW, with a storage capacity of 202.86 MWh. The complex provides electricity to the eastern regions of the country, and a powerful grid has been built for uninterrupted supply.
It should be noted that with the adoption of a zero-emissions strategy, many countries began actively building alternative energy facilities. At the moment the most popular segment is solar energy. New facilities appear in Europe, the U.S. launches large complexes to provide quality energy to more homes. Production technologies are also improving, scientists are working to make the process of generating and distributing energy more affordable and efficient.
