Arabian Business reported that Masdar the Abu Dhabi government owned renewable energy company will start operating its 100 MW Shams 1 concentrated solar thermal plant by the Q3 of 2012.

Mr Frank Wouters director of Masdar Power said that the company is awaiting consent from Abu Dhabi’s executive council to build the 100 MW Noor 1 photovoltaic plants. Masdar is about to award a contract to build 30 MW wind turbine on Sir Bani Yas island.

He said that Masdar plans Shams 2 and Noor 2 solar projects to help meet Abu Dhabi’s goal of obtaining 7% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020, although these plants are yet to be approved.

(Sourced from www.arabianbusiness.com)