Team Blitz India
CHINESE photovoltaic firms are making significant inroads in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recently, Chinese solar power giant GCL Technology revealed plans to launch its inaugural granular silicon project in the UAE.
GCL disclosed the ongoing discussions with Mubadala Investment Co PJSC to explore potential collaboration, including establishing an integrated silicon ecosystem in the region. This venture could potentially host the world’s largest granular silicon research, development, and manufacturing hub. Earlier in May, GCL’s Suzhou branch inked a pact with MDC Power Holding Co LLC, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment, to develop the UAE’s premier polysilicon production facility.
Zhu Gongshan, chairman of GCL, highlighted the UAE’s favourable solar conditions, boasting an average of 3,000 to 4,000 hours of solar power generation annually. This makes it conducive for large-scale photovoltaic power stations. Additionally, the UAE’s aggressive push towards new energy development, positioning it as a cornerstone for sustainable growth, further incentivises investment, he noted.
Under the updated UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the government aims to triple renewable energy’s share and invest up to AED 200 billion ($54 billion) by 2030 to meet escalating energy demands. These initiatives follow China’s recent pledge to support its energy firms and financial institutions in engaging in renewable energy ventures with a combined installed capacity exceeding 3 million kilowatts in the Arab nations. Over the past year, multiple Chinese solar enterprises, including GCL, TrinaSolar, and Arctech, have unveiled intentions to invest in the Middle East for polysilicon, silicon wafers, solar cells, and auxiliary materials production.
This strategic pivot towards the Middle East underscores the region’s increasing significance in the global renewable energy arena, fuelled by its abundant natural resources and business-friendly policies. It also signifies a notable stride in China’s endeavour to extend its solar industry’s global reach, particularly amid escalating trade tensions with Western counterparts, according to Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University
