Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is actively seeking developers for a new 1.5-GW greenfield solar power project located in Abu Dhabi's Al Zarraf area.
On Tuesday, EWEC, the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in the emirate, issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) invitation for this solar photovoltaic (PV) project, marking its fifth utility-scale solar initiative. Once operational, the project is expected to increase EWEC's total solar power capacity to 7 GW.
The scope of the project will encompass various critical aspects, including the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the solar power plant and its related infrastructure.
EWEC will purchase the electricity generated by the facility under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). This initiative aligns with EWEC's strategic plan to add an average of 1.4 GW of new solar capacity annually between 2027 and 2037. By 2030, it is anticipated that over 50% of Abu Dhabi's electricity will come from clean energy sources, with this figure rising to 60% by 2035.
The deadline for EOI submissions is set for October 22. Following this, EWEC will issue a Request for Qualifications, which will subsequently be followed by a Request for Proposal to qualified bidders after obtaining regulatory approval for the project.
