Changzhou Almaden, a solar glass manufacturer based in China, has announced plans to build a new production facility in the United Arab Emirates. The factory will be located in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD)
The planned facility will have a total production capacity of 500,000 tonnes. This includes a daily melting capacity of 1,600 tonnes. The project also includes deep-processing production lines. Construction is expected to take about 18 months. The project cost is estimated at USD 240.2 million.
The new company operating this facility will be called Almaden Glass Industries Ltd. It will be based in the UAE. This move is part of Almaden’s expansion plan to reach international markets. The company has said that demand in overseas regions such as the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia will be served through this plant.
Changzhou Almaden, China was founded in 2006. It produces anti-reflective coated (ARC) and tempered glass used in solar panels. As of the end of 2024, the company reported a net loss of CNY 126.8 million. This follows a profit of CNY 83.5 million the year before. Revenues also dropped from CNY 3.63 billion in 2023 to CNY 2.89 billion in 2024.
Besides this project, other renewable energy efforts are also underway in the UAE. A pilot 1.2 MW floating solar project was installed near Al Rahba. It is being used to assess the performance of solar panels on water surfaces under high-temperature conditions.
In the desert area of Al Ain, a solar-diesel hybrid microgrid is supplying power to a small agricultural research station. The microgrid has a 500 kW solar component supported by a 400 kWh battery.
In Ras Al Khaimah, a local cement plant has begun trial operations of a 3.4 MW waste heat recovery system. This system captures heat from cement kilns to produce electricity, reducing fossil fuel use.
