Sharjah Solar Plant Ushers New Energy Era

Sharjah's First Solar Plant Taps Into New Energy Era

Sharjah has officially joined the ranks of cities harnessing clean energy by inaugurating its first solar power plant, named Sana, which translates to "brilliant light." The new facility, with a 60-megawatt capacity, can supply electricity to approximately 13,780 homes annually, while preventing the release of 66,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. This is not only a milestone environmentally but also plays a key role in shaping the emirate's economic and energy future.

Technology and Scale That Impresses

The Sana solar plant is located near the Sajaa Gas Facility, covering more than 850,000 square meters. The facility comprises 98,000 solar panels supported by 13,000 sun-tracking posts, enabling the system to automatically adjust to the sun's position and collect as much energy as possible throughout the day.

This technological solution allows the plant not only to supply green energy to the projects of the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) but also to feed excess daytime electricity into the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (Sewa) grid. At night, Sewa reverses the flow, providing electricity to the SNOC facilities.

Project Background and Message

The project's history dates back to 2018 when SNOC engineers installed a 300-kilowatt pilot solar plant at the Hamriyah LNG terminal. This was the foundation for the current, much larger Sana project. According to SNOC, transitioning to renewable energy is no longer an option but an essential step to keeping pace with the global energy transformation.

Moreover, Sana carries symbolic significance: many young Emirati graduates supported and developed the project, so the plant not only generates energy carriers but also builds a knowledge base and human capital for the country's future.

Sustainable Operations for the Long Term

The maintenance and operation of the plant for the next 25 years have been undertaken by Emerge, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and the French EDF Group. Thus, the project is the result of both local and international cooperation, showing long-term trust in the region and the strength of energy industry partnerships.

Community Recognition and Forward-Looking Goals

During the inauguration, partners involved in the project were recognized, receiving special certificates, and there was an opportunity to meet the Emirati engineers who worked directly on creating Sana. The event also highlighted the importance Sharjah places on decarbonizing the oil and gas industry, as this is the first project to supply the emirate’s fossil fuel facilities with renewable energy.

2050 Target: Net Zero Emissions

The Sana project fits into the UAE's broader 2050 net zero emissions target, for which Sharjah has now taken a significant step. The collaboration between SNOC, Sewa, and Emerge serves as an exemplary model — together they demonstrate that the future of energy supply can be based on clean, sustainable, and technologically advanced solutions.

(The article is sourced from a Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (Sewa) press release.)