RFP issued for 1.5 GW Solar PV Project in UAE

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified developers and consortiums that have expressed interest in developing the 1.5 GW Khazna Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project, located in the Al Khazna area of Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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

A total of 27 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 19 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification, following the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage that took place in September 2023. The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40 % of the entity, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government.

The developer will enter into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with EWEC. The PPA will be structured as an energy purchase agreement whereby EWEC will pay only for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.

Responses to the RFP are expected in Q3 2024. EWEC will then hold a public event to confirm the companies and consortiums who submit proposals.