Renewable energies projects in the UAE: The solar Energy In addition to taking s
ID: 379067 • Letter: R
Question
Renewable energies projects in the UAE: The solar Energy In addition to taking steps to procure a quarter of its energy from nuclea U.A.E. has sought to introduce more solar power into its energy mix. Given that the U.A.E. averages over 10 hours of sunlight per day this method of power generation has tremendous potential. The energy began with Masdar. Masdar first built a 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant to provide electricity to Masda Company First Solar. Masdar subsequently partnered with Total and Abengoa construct a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant called Shams 1 in the Western region of Abu Dhabi. After its completion in 2013, this plant became largest renewable energy project in the Middle East, generating enough electricity to power 20,000 homes. From there, the U.A.E.'s solar ambitions only grew - especially with the launch of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This 50 billion AED [$13.6 billion] project, which is overseen by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), is ultimately scheduled to produce 5,000 MW of electricity by 2030, including 1,000 MW of CSP. When completed, this park will reportedly be the largest solar park in the world, powering an estimated 800,000 homes. r power, the and roughly 350 sunny days per year, U.A.E.'s pursuit of solar the Questions: 1. Define and outline the possible risks that might affect such type of projects (at least 10 different risks). (3 Marks) Generate a register log where the already defined risks are listed and classifiedb functional area and category (at least 4 risk categories should be provided). (2 Marks)Explanation / Answer
Ans: The potential risks that may affect such projects.
1. Sudden climate changes may reduce the number of sunny days, and affect the profitability and ultimately the feasibility of the project.
2. Rise in the cost of production of such type of electricity owing to rise in equipment / technology cost making it unviable.
3. Invention of new technologies in alternative solar energy production methods may render the existing technique obsolete, and changeover to costly to be viable.
4. Political upheavel stopping the project altogether, making all investment useless.
5. Sanctions on such projects by global environment regulatory authorities, forcing the government to close down the parks.
6. Environmental damage caused by the solar park may cause ecological imbalance and force closure.
7. Act of sabotage, warfare and terrorism may affect the projects.
8.Longe term infeasiblity of project due to decreasing efficiency of the process.
9.Negative effects on the health of the inhabitants of area by the ecological changes produced by the projects.
10. Avanced methods of producing nuclear energy making this technology too expensive to use.
Ans 2:
Points 1, 5, 6, 9 - Environmental risk.
Points: 2, 3, 8,10 - Technological risk
Point 4 - Political risk
Point 7- Risk caused by sabotage.