By: Utilities middle east

Yemen’s first utility-scale solar project is now operational in the southern port city of Aden, providing power to tens of thousands of homes and offering relief from chronic electricity outages.

The 120-megawatt Aden Solar Power Plant, funded by the United Arab Emirates, has been operational since July 2024. According to a technician at the facility, Sabri al-Maamari, the plant supplies electricity to between 150,000 and 170,000 homes daily. The project is a significant development for a country that the International Energy Agency (IEA) ranks as the least electrified in the Middle East.

Yemen has faced a severe electricity crisis for almost three decades, exacerbated by fuel shortages and damage to national power infrastructure caused by ongoing conflict. While solar power accounted for only 10.4% of Yemen’s total electricity generation in 2023, its share is expected to grow. A second phase of the Aden Solar Power Plant is planned for 2026, which is set to double its capacity.