Ewec has another solar farm in the works: The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has invited developers and consortiums to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the development of the 1.5 GW Zarraf solar PV IPP in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Region, according to a press release. EOIs must be submitted by 22 October 2024, with qualified bidders proceeding through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process.
What we know: The Zarraf Solar PV project will power approximately 160k homes and reduce CO2 emissions by over 2.4 mn metric tons annually. It is Ewec’s fifth large-scale solar project, contributing to its goal of building an average of 1.4 GW of new solar PV capacity annually between 2027 to 2037.
What’s up for grabs? The selected developer or consortium will handle the development, financing, construction, operation, and long-term power purchase agreements with Ewec as the sole electricity procurer.
This is Ewec’s fourth utility-scale solar project: Ewec’s latest solar IPP follows previous projects including Al Dhafra solar PV, Al Ajban solar PV, and Khazna solar PV. This new project will raise the utility’s total solar power capacity to around 7 GW, Zawya Projects writes.
REMEMBER- Al Ajban solar project recently reached financial close: Korea Western Power (Kowepo), France’s EDF Renewables, and Masdar reached financial close on the 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar PV IPP project in Abu Dhabi last month. The consortium inked a 30 year Power Purchase Agreement with Ewec in April to design, finance, build and operate the plant. EDF Renewables and Kowepo will hold a 20% stake each and Masdar will hold the remaining 60% stake, while Ewec will offtake all the renewable energy generated.
Things are heating up in Al Dhafra: Renewables giant Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), France’s EDF Renewables, China’s JinkoPower, and Ewec inaugurated the 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar IPP in November 2023. A joint venture (JV) between the Investment Corporation of Dubai’s construction giant Alec Engineering and Contracting and construction and services group Butec was tapped in April to build and design Abu Dhabi’s first waste-to-energy plant near the Al-Dhafra landfill.