EWEC To develop The New Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project

EWEC issued RFP to qualified companies and consortiums that had expressed interest in developing the new Solar Photovoltaic.

The Al Ajban Solar PV Project, a greenfield solar PV plant with a power generation capacity of 1,500 MW (AC), will generate enough electricity to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE, according to the report.

It is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi's CO2 emissions by up to 2.4 million metric tonnes per year once commercially operational, increase solar energy capacity on the Abu Dhabi system to approximately 4 GW (AC), and is critical to the nation's energy transition as well as Abu Dhabi's sustainability and economic diversification agenda.

The report stated that, together with the two previous large-scale solar PV projects tendered by EWEC, namely Noor Abu Dhabi and the Al Dhafra Solar PV Project, the Al Ajban Solar PV Project will play a pivotal role in enabling the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative as well as the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said, "Increased solar power generation is a key pillar in our strategic plan to fundamentally transition our energy generation to a low-carbon system."

"There has been a strong level of interest expressed in this key project so far, and we look forward to seeing proposals from pre-qualified companies and moving to the next stage of development,"  he added.

According to him, the Al Ajban Solar PV Project will become the third world-leading solar power project created by EWEC, making Abu Dhabi and the UAE home to the three largest single-site solar power plants in the world.

Combined with Noor Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra Solar PV, Al Ajban Solar PV will increase Abu Dhabi’s solar power generation capacity to 4 GW, reducing carbon emissions by approximately six million metric tonnes per year.

The RFP is being issued to bidders that passed the qualification process following the expression of interest (EOI) stage that took place in May 2022.

As the report concluded, a total of 43 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 19 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification.

The RFP provides detailed requirements and proposed technical parameters for the project to support companies and consortiums in developing their submissions.

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