With the goal of reaching “net zero” domestic carbon emissions by 2050, the United Arab Emirates is pushing to treble its renewable energy over the next seven years.

Within this framework, one of the largest solar facilities in the world was launched by the UAE two weeks prior to its hosting of UN climate talks. The Al Dhafra project, located eight miles south of the capital Abu Dhabi, has rows of photovoltaic panels that revolve in tandem with the sun and are kept free of dust and sand by robotic cleaning modules. Utilizing the most recent advancements in crystalline, bifacial solar technology, it employs nearly 4 million solar panels. By catching solar energy from both the front and back of the panel, this technology allows the plant to produce power with greater efficiency.

By bringing low-carbon electricity to the Emirates, this initiative will reduce CO2 emissions by more than two million Tonne year, or the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road. With a two-gigawatt output capacity, Al Dhafra will supply 160,000 houses with carbon-free energy.

Al Dhafra Solar PV smashed records for utility-scale solar project costs during the height of construction, creating 4,500 jobs. The project initially produced one of the most attractive solar electricity rates, set at AED 4.97 fils/kWh, which was later increased to AED 4.85 fils/kWh with financial closing.

The project’s completion was made possible by the formation of a strategic alliance and pooling the collective knowledge of Masdar, China’s JinkoPower, UAE’s Taqa, and French company EDF Renewables.