EWEC receives three bids for 1.5 GW solar park in UAE

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), has announced the receipt of three proposals from ENGIE, a consortium comprised of EDF Renewables and Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), and a consortium comprised of Jinko Power and JERA, for the development of the new 1,500 MW(AC) Khazna Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project in Al Khazna, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The tender began in September 2023 with an expression of interest stage, which saw 19 of 27 applications from bidding companies and consortia qualify for the request-for-proposals stage, which commenced in April 2024. The three remaining proposals will undergo technical and commercial evaluations before EWEC awards the contract in Q2 2025. The selected applicant will handle the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant and its associated infrastructure. They will also sign a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC. 

The Solar PV project has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE and will also raise EWEC’s total solar PV power capacity to approximately 5.5 gigawatts (GW) AC. It is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s carbon emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tonnes per year, providing 5% of EWEC’s forecasted 36% reduction in power emissions intensity by 2030 compared to today.