Sharjah's First Utility-Scale Solar Park Launched to Power Gas Facility

The UAE’s Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and renewable energy developer Emerge have launched a 60 MWp solar park in Sharjah, designed to power a nearby gas processing facility. This solar park, which spans 850,000 square meters next to the Sajaa Gas Plant, is the first utility-scale solar installation in the emirate. The solar-generated electricity will completely supply the Sajaa Gas Plant with clean energy, and any excess power will be directed to the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) during daylight hours. The project is supported by SNOC and collaboratively carried out by SEWA and Emerge, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Masdar and France's EDF Group.

Under a Build–Own–Operate–Transfer (BOOT) agreement, Emerge will manage and operate the facility for the next 25 years. During the inauguration ceremony held on Wednesday, SNOC's chief executive, Khamis Al Mazrouei, emphasized that transitioning to renewable energy is now imperative to keep pace with the rapid developments in the energy sector.