joining numerous other solar towers in its search for solar supremacy . Alongside Crescent Dunes in California is the Aurora Solar Energy Project in Australia ( set to cost $ 510mn ), the 4.5GW project currently being planned by TuNur in Tunisia , The Solar Platform in Seville ( cost estimated at $ 118mn ), the Ashalim project in the Negev Desert in Israel , and the Atacama 1 in Chile ( cost estimated at $ 1.1bn ).
While the tower is a beacon of sustainable light in a world where climate change and fossil fuel depletion are an increasingly concerning reality , there are some issues that need to be considered going forward . “ There is concern from ecologists around birds , insects and other wildlife ,” says Brown . “ The power of the beams between the tower and the collectors is incredibly intense and bird strikes are one issue to consider . I think it is vital that we look to alternatives to the traditional fossil fuels , however , and this sends a powerful message that flies in the face of the fossil fuel industry .”
It is a sentiment that Masini shares : “ By building this solar park , Dubai is sending a clear message to the rest of the world that renewables offer competitive opportunities for energy independence and diversification , even in Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) countries where the competition with fossil resources has traditionally been fierce . Since Dubai has a good track record in the development of large scale projects , I am confident that this experience will play a role in guaranteeing the success of this project .”
The park was first announced in 2012
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