Emirates Water and Electricity Company based in Abu Dhabi in UAE has issued a request for proposals (RFPs) for a 1.5GW solar PV plant in Abu Dhabi. The RFPs were issued to 19 developers and consortia, from a pool of 27 companies and consortia that submitted submitted expressions of interest (EOI) for the Khazna project last September.
According to the company, the scope of work includes the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure, which is set to be built in the Al Khazna area of Abu Dhabi.
Further, the duration to apply for the RFP to EWEC will be till the end of June 2024. 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. Once fully operational, the Khazna project alone is expected to generate enough electricity for approximately 160,000 homes across the United Arab Emirates.
Moreover, UAE has a target of 7.3GW of Solar PV generation by 2030, a huge increase over the 1.2 GW plus that exists currently. In 2023, according to IEA, barely 700 MW of fresh capacity was commissioned, even as expectations were for a much higher 1.2 GW or above.
Amid the push for clean energy, UAE Ministry of Defence and Masdar, a key player in renewable energy, have recently entered into a significant partnership aimed at accelerating sustainable energy infrastructure in Abu Dhabi. Through this collaborative effort, the two entities are set develop multiple solar plants across the region.
