The global energy sector is changing at a pace that would have seemed unlikely a decade ago. Solar farms now cover areas the size of small cities. Offshore wind installations are generating power for millions of homes. Countries that were almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels are now commissioning some of the largest clean energy projects the world has seen. This article sets out a selection of the most significant renewable energy projects currently operating or under construction, what makes them notable, and what they mean for the professionals who build and operate them.
WRS has deep experience placing engineers, project managers, HSE professionals, and technical specialists on renewable energy projects across solar, onshore wind, and offshore wind. As these projects grow in scale and complexity, the demand for skilled people continues to rise.
Leading Solar Energy Projects
Bhadla Solar Park, India
Located in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, Bhadla Solar Park covers 56 square kilometres and has a total installed capacity of 2,245 MW, making it India’s largest solar installation and one of the largest in the world. The park was developed across four phases from 2015, with funding from the Climate Investment Fund and the Asian Development Bank.
Rajasthan was chosen for its exceptionally high solar irradiance of up to 5.72 kWh per square metre per day, among the highest of any location in India. The park reduces CO2 emissions by an estimated four million tonnes per year and supplies power to more than a million homes. Development of the site is ongoing: in early 2026, NTPC declared commercial operation of an additional 125 MW capacity at its Bhadla facility, taking its total contribution at the park to 500 MW.
Further reading: NTPC Bhadla expansion, February 2026
India’s solar ambitions extend well beyond Bhadla. The Khavda Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat, being developed by Adani Green Energy across 538 square kilometres, is targeting 30 GW of capacity by 2028 and is expected to surpass Bhadla as India’s largest solar installation when complete.
Noor Abu Dhabi, UAE
Noor Abu Dhabi, located in Sweihan approximately 120 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi city, has a capacity of 1.177 GW and operates more than 3.2 million solar panels across an 8 square kilometre site. It began commercial operations in April 2019 under a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC).
The project is operated by Sweihan PV Power Company, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi Power Corporation, Japan’s Marubeni, and China’s JinkoSolar. At peak construction, more than 2,900 people were employed on site. The plant uses a waterless robotic cleaning system, covering 1,600 kilometres of panels daily, designed for the desert environment.
Since Noor Abu Dhabi was commissioned, Abu Dhabi has continued to invest in solar at scale. The 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar PV project, inaugurated in 2023, has since taken the title of the world’s largest single-site solar plant. Together these installations place Abu Dhabi among the most active solar markets globally.
Official project site: https://noorabudhabi.ae/
Al Dhafra Solar PV, UAE
Inaugurated ahead of COP28 in late 2023, the Al Dhafra Solar PV project in Abu Dhabi has a capacity of 2 GW, making it currently the world’s largest single-site solar power plant. Developed by a consortium including Masdar, TAQA, EDF Renewables, and JinkoPower, it supplies clean electricity to approximately 200,000 homes and eliminates over 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The project reflects the UAE’s broader Energy Strategy 2050, which targets 50 percent of the country’s energy from clean sources by mid-century. EWEC has signalled plans to commission a further 1 GW of new solar capacity per year for the next decade.
Masdar announcement: https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/worlds-largest–single-site-solar-power-plant-inaugurated
Major Wind Energy Projects
Hornsea 3, UK
Hornsea 3 is currently under construction in the North Sea, 160 kilometres off the Yorkshire coast, and is due to become the world’s single largest offshore wind farm when it reaches full operation, expected in 2027. Developed by Orsted, it has a capacity of 2.9 GW and will feature around 200 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW wind turbines. When operational, it will generate enough electricity to power more than 3 million UK homes.
In December 2025, Apollo Global Management completed its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in the project for approximately EUR 5.2 billion, one of the largest infrastructure investment transactions in the offshore wind sector. Orsted retains ownership of the other 50 percent and will construct the farm under a full-scope EPC contract, with long-term operations and maintenance responsibilities.
Onshore cable installation is underway in Norfolk, with construction progress reports published monthly. The project is also supporting supply chain investment in the North East of England, with the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Clean Energy Park confirmed as the marshalling base for turbine components.
Project updates: https://hornseaproject3.co.uk/ | Apollo investment announcement: https://www.offshorewind.biz/2025/12/31/apollo-becomes-co-owner-of-hornsea-3-offshore-wind-farm/
Hornsea 1 and 2, UK
Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2, also operated by Orsted and located off the Yorkshire coast, were at different points the largest operational offshore wind farms in the world. Hornsea 1, with a capacity of 1.2 GW, became fully operational in 2020. Hornsea 2, with a capacity of 1.4 GW, achieved full operation in August 2022. Together they supply enough electricity for over two million homes and demonstrate the commercial viability of very large-scale offshore wind at this depth and distance from shore.
Gansu Wind Farm, China
The Gansu Wind Farm in northwest China is one of the largest onshore wind installations in the world, with an installed capacity that has grown significantly over successive phases of development and a long-term target exceeding 20,000 MW. Located in the Gobi Desert, it benefits from strong and consistent wind conditions. The project forms a central part of China’s ambition to reach 1,200 GW of combined wind and solar capacity by 2030, a target that has reshaped the global renewable energy market.
Alta Wind Energy Center, USA
The Alta Wind Energy Center in Tehachapi, California, is among the largest onshore wind installations in the United States, with a total capacity across its multiple phases of approximately 1,550 MW. Located in the Tehachapi Pass, one of the windiest corridors in California, the project has been operational since 2010 and continues to supply clean power to the California grid. It serves as a reference point for what large-scale onshore wind development looks like in a mature market.
Onshore Wind vs Offshore Wind
Both technologies are integral to meeting global renewable targets, but they operate under different economic and technical conditions.
Onshore wind is generally less expensive to build and maintain, with simpler grid connection logistics and lower installation costs. It is well-suited to regions with available land and consistent wind resources. The main constraints are planning and land use, which vary significantly by country.
Offshore wind benefits from stronger and more consistent wind speeds at sea, which translates to higher capacity factors and greater energy output per turbine. The trade-off is higher construction and maintenance cost, driven by the complexity of working in a marine environment. However, costs have fallen substantially over the past decade as the industry has scaled, and projects like Hornsea 3 demonstrate that offshore wind is now economically competitive at gigawatt scale.
Both sectors require specialist workforces. Offshore wind in particular draws on skills from subsea engineering, marine operations, and traditional offshore energy, making it a natural area of focus for WRS.
Why These Projects Matter
The scale of investment in renewable energy is not just an environmental story. It is an employment story. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (https://www.irena.org/) projects that the global renewable energy workforce could reach 38 million people by 2030, up from around 13.7 million in 2022. Solar and wind account for the largest share of that growth.
Every gigawatt of new offshore wind capacity requires engineers, project managers, marine specialists, HSE professionals, and skilled tradespeople to build and operate it. Large solar installations at the scale of Bhadla or Al Dhafra employ thousands of people during construction and require ongoing technical teams for operations and maintenance.
The challenge for project developers and operators is not just identifying where the talent needs to be. It is finding the right people, getting them cleared, certified, and mobilised, and retaining them across the project lifecycle.
How WRS Supports Renewable Energy Projects
WRS places skilled professionals on renewable energy projects worldwide, including offshore wind, onshore wind, and large-scale solar. Our experience spans the full project lifecycle, from development and construction through to operations and maintenance.
We understand the technical requirements that define each discipline: the offshore safety certifications, the engineering competencies, the HSE standards, and the project management frameworks. We also understand the logistical complexity of placing people on international projects, managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and mobilising quickly when project timelines demand it.
For professionals with a background in energy, engineering, or construction who are looking to move into the renewable sector, or deepen their experience within it, WRS can help you identify where your skills are most in demand and connect you with the right opportunities.
