RFP Issued for Development of 400 MW/800 MWh Battery Energy Storage System in UAE

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified developers and developer consortiums that expressed interest in developing an independent greenfield 400 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) power project providing up to 800 MWh of storage capacity in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

BESS technology will also provide crucial ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation, further reinforcing the security of supply and supporting EWEC to increase its solar PV capacity to 7.5 GW by 2030. This accelerated growth in renewables will significantly reduce the carbon dioxide intensity of EWEC’s power supply, from 330 kg/MWh in 2019 to an estimated 190 kg/MWh by 2030.

The RFP is being issued to bidders who passed the qualification process following the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage in April 2024. A total of 93 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 27 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification. The project will closely follow the model of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s successful Independent Power Producer (IPP) program, where developers enter into a long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer. It will involve developing, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the BESS system and associated infrastructure. 

Responses to the RFP will be received by Q4 2024.