EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing, and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, has invited developers and developer consortiums to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the development of a new solar photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project (IPP), to be located in Al Khazna area of Abu Dhabi. 

 

The development of EWEC’s new solar PV project aligns with the company’s strategic plan to build additional renewable energy plants that increase its total solar power generation capacity to 7.3 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, said a statement.

 

The Khazna Solar PV project, a greenfield solar power project with a generation capacity of 1,500 megawatts (AC), will be similar in scale and production capacity to Al Dhafra Solar PV and Al Ajban Solar PV. Once fully operational, the project will generate enough electricity for approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE, and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tonnes per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road. 

 

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: “Solar energy is an integral pillar of EWEC’s strategy in transitioning our portfolio to a low-carbon system and decarbonising electricity production. We continue to strategically invest in developing world-leading renewable projects that significantly accelerate our journey to meeting 60 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s total power demand from renewable and clean energy sources by 2035, in addition to actively contributing to the achievement of the UAE’s sustainability objectives.

 

“With the Khazna Solar PV project, EWEC is bringing to Abu Dhabi and the UAE another world-class utility-scale solar power project that reflects the country’s position at the forefront of energy transition. The tangible steps EWEC is taking today will enable us to become a role model for the integration of solar power and low-carbon technologies to the grid. EWEC is also planning to commission at least two additional 1,500 MW solar PV projects, reflecting our commitment to adding an average of 1GW of solar capacity per year for the next decade. We look forward to receiving expressions of interest from developer or developer consortiums for the development of the vital Khazna Solar PV project,” Ali said.

 

The Khazna Solar PV project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure. 

 

The project will follow the independent power project programme of Abu Dhabi, where developers enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer of electricity. 

 

The deadline for EOI is October 2, at 12:00 noon Gulf Standard Time (GST). Interested parties are requested to submit their EOI via electronic copy to: khaznapv.project@ewec.ae.

 

Following a review of the EOIs, EWEC will issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to proceed to the next stage. The RFQ will provide additional details regarding the project, pre-qualification criteria and the bidding process. After RFQ, the subsequent Request for Proposal to qualified bidders will be shared following regulatory approval of the project, the statement said. –TradeArabia News Service