Climate change is undoubtedly one of the biggest concerns of governments and societies worldwide. With fears of food insecurity, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss, world leaders at events such as COP have committed to reducing their emissions and aiming for Net Zero. For the world to work together and meet these crucial targets, it must drive the development of ambitious renewable energy projects.
So, our guide will investigate five of the world's largest renewable energy projects that will significantly impact the fight against climate change. We will explore their locations, the renewable energy jobs they create, their impact on local communities, and their clean energy production.
1. Dogger Bank Wind Farm - UK
The UK's 3.6W Dogger Bank Wind Farm is currently being built 70 miles from the coast of Yorkshire and is coming in three 1.2GW phases - Dogger A, B, and C. It will become the world's largest offshore wind energy project and is expected to be completed by 2026. The details of each phase are as follows:
- Phase A consists of 95 wind turbines and is 515km² in size. It produced its first power for the first time in 2023, with commercial operations expected in 2024.
- Phase B consists of 95 wind turbines and is 599km² in size. It is expected to produce its first power in 2024, with commercial operations expected in 2025.
- Phase C consists of 87 wind turbines and is 560km² in size. It is expected to enter commercial operations in 2026, which will see the overall competition for the overall project.
A partnership between Equinor (40%), SSE Renewables (40%), and Vargronn (20%) is developing the wind farm and includes investments of over £9 billion. Upon completion, the wind farm is expected to have an operational life expectancy of around 35 years.
Here are some impressive stats about the wind farm and how it will support building a sustainable, greener future:
- Upon completion, its 277 wind turbines will generate 3.6GW, which is enough electricity to power 6 million households across the United Kingdom.
- Each turbine provides enough clean energy to power 16,000 UK households and save the equivalent of 9,000 vehicle emissions annually.
- One rotation of the GE’s Haliade-X turbines can power a household for two days.
- Each of the 227 turbines reaches close to twice the height of the London Eye.
- The blades, which are 107m long, are almost double the wingspan of the Angel of the North.
In addition to supporting the fight against climate change, the farm is committed to supporting the UK offshore wind supply chain. It is estimated that to date, 2000 UK roles have been created or supported in relation to the operation and construction of the farm. Once the farm is fully completed, it will create over 200 direct full-time operations jobs throughout its anticipated 35-year lifetime.
Olly Cass, SSE Renewables’s project director for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, hailed the project by saying:
"Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a world-leading development pushing the boundaries of offshore wind development. We’re incredibly proud to say Dogger Bank Wind Farm is playing a key role in delivering the ambition to increase UK supply chain capacity and capability. Through our support for the local supply chain we’re harnessing skills and expertise in the North East of England and delivering long-term benefits in the UK’s offshore wind sector."
2. New England Solar Project - Australia
Next on our list of renewable energy projects is the New England Solar Project. It is located on a 2,000-hectare site near Uralla, New South Wales, Australia. This 720-megawatt solar farm is set to become one of the largest solar photovoltaic power generation projects in Australia. ACEN Renewables Australia, a leading renewable energy developer, is developing it, and it will be built in the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
The farm is expected to have 8,000MW of renewable generation capacity. Once constructed, it is expected to produce 1,800,000 megawatt-hours of renewable, clean electricity annually. The project is part of the New South Wales state government's $79 million plan to deliver new energy infrastructure, create new renewable energy jobs, lower electricity costs, and make the region a vital area for renewable energy investment.
Stage 1 of the project (440 MW) commenced generating clean, renewable energy in Queensland and New South Wales in 2023. Stage 2 (320MW) will start construction in 2024. Here are some impressive stats about the project:
The farm will have more power than more than 300,000 Australian homes annually.
- Offsets 1.5 million of CO2 emissions each year.
- Providing 500 jobs at peak construction.
- Providing up to 15 operational renewable energy jobs.
- Will give more than $7 million in community funding to Uralla over the next 25+ years.
- Stage 1 was built using an 80% regional workforce.
Brian Caffyn, Executive Chairman of UPC Renewables, hailed the project, saying:
"This is a very large energy project, even for Australia, and we are proud to be associated with the New England Solar Farm and the local community and to help transition NSW towards a clean, lower-cost energy future."
3. Iberdrola’s 1.2 GW Fernando Pessoa solar project
In 2023, Spanish renewable energy giant Iberdrola secured environmental approval to build its 1.2 GW Fernando Pessoa solar project in Santiago do Cacém, Southwest Portugal. The project is being developed in partnership with Prosolia Energy and is expected to be commissioned by 2025. It is part of Iberdrola's plan to invest €3 billion in wind and solar energy in the upcoming years.
Once completed, the solar project is expected to supply electricity to 430,000 Portuguese households, nearly twice the size of the city of Porto. The facility will avoid the consumption of 370 million cubic metres of gas annually.
In addition to providing energy and reducing emissions, its construction will create up to 2,500 renewable energy jobs, the majority of which will be local. Also, local shepherds will use the land to graze sheep, and beehives will be present to support biodiversity and environmental protection. The project will also provide measures such as developing tourism and occupational skills training in the local area.
Iberdrola Executive Chairman, Ignacio Galán, said:
“This solar farm sets a new benchmark in combining Europe’s clean energy ambitions with the delivery of tangible environmental and social benefits. We need to reduce our exposure to fossil fuels. We are proud to continue and strengthen our commitment to Portugal with new clean infrastructure across the country, as we did with the Tâmega gigabattery. The collaboration of the Portuguese authorities has also been essential in getting this project to this stage in record time.”
4. Yellow Pine Solar Project
Yellow Pine Solar is one of the latest renewable energy projects in the US. It covers approximately 3,000 acres and is located in Clark County, Nevada, 51 km west of Las Vegas. It is being developed by Yellow Pine Solar, a subsidiary of Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources, the world's largest solar and wind energy producer.
The project will use photovoltaic (PV) panel modules measuring approximately 6.5ft in height and 3.25 ft in width. It will have a capacity of up to 500 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, enough to power 100,000 homes. It will also be able to offset nearly 500,00 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 80,000 cars off the road. As well as the energy advantages, there are major economic benefits, including:
- $400 million worth of project investment
- $23 million worth of tax revenue which can support schools, services, and roads
- Proving of 300 construction jobs
- Generate $297 million for local economies
Angelita Bulletts, the BLM Southern Nevada District Manager, proclaimed the project would:
"Get Americans back to work, strengthen the economy, and provide 500 megawatts of renewable energy. The BLM is proud to approve this project, which will aid the economic development of surrounding communities"
Want to discuss more about the five most in-demand renewable energy jobs in 2024, then discover our insightful guide.
5. Khavda Renewable Energy Park
The Adani Group has undertaken a significant project by constructing the world's largest renewable energy park near the Pakistan border in the Khavda region of Gujarat. Covering an area of 726 square kilometres, around the size of Singapore, the solar and wind park will have a capacity of 45 GW. The Indian government have estimated the project will cost at least $2.26 billion.
The park's construction commenced in 2022 and is expected to be completed over the next five years. It involved extensive infrastructure development, including drainage systems, desalination plants, and roads.
At its peak, the renewable energy project is expected to provide the following:
- Supply 30 GW of renewable energy annually.
- The energy output can power around 18 million homes
- Help reduce approximately 58 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
- Create over 15,200 jobs.
This vast renewable energy project forms part of India's ongoing mission to reach net zero emissions by 2070. To drive this commitment, the country aims to install 500 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030. Currently, 70% of India's electricity is powered by electricity, and renewable energy provides 10%, highlighting the significant need for this project to be completed.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani praised the renewable energy project, saying:
"Adani Green Energy is creating one of the world's most extensive renewable energy ecosystems for solar and wind. Through bold and innovative projects like the Khavda RE plant, AGEL continues to set higher global benchmarks and rewrite the world's planning and execution standards for giga-scale renewable energy projects."
Rounding up the World’s most Groundbreaking Renewable Energy Projects
In a world grappling with the urgent reality of climate change, the crucial drive to build effective and innovative renewable energy projects becomes increasingly imperative. The dire consequences of high carbon emissions, from food security to biodiversity loss, necessitate concerted efforts to transition towards cleaner, sustainable energy sources.
This exploration of five remarkable renewable energy projects serves as a testament to human innovation and determination in combatting climate change. These projects not only harness the power to generate clean energy but also serve as a catalyst for economic growth, the creation of renewable energy jobs, and the empowerment of local communities.
As the world races against the clock to mitigate the impacts of climate change, these initiatives offer hope, demonstrating that through bold investments and collaborative efforts, we can move towards a more sustainable future for generations to come.
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