EWEC launches tender for 2-GW solar park in Abu Dhabi

Emirates Water and Electricity Company PJSC (EWEC) said Wednesday it has issued a tender for the 2-GW solar project in Al Dhafra that attracted 48 expressions of interest (EoIs) earlier this year.

The company, which is replacing the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), said the start of commercial operations at the huge solar photovoltaic (PV) park is targeted for the first quarter of 2022. The deadline for bids is in the fourth quarter of 2019, a source at EWEC told Renewables Now.

The successful bidders will be in charge of financing, building, operating and maintaining the solar power plant under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). Under the laws of the UAE, the developer, or development consortium, will own up to 40% of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that will be set up for the project. The remaining equity will be in the hands of local entities.

The 1,177-MW Noor Abu Dhabi solar park in Sweihan, also known as the Sweihan Solar PV Project, recently started operations. Once the Al Dhafra project is completed, Abu Dhabi will reach 3,200 MW of solar capacity.

EWEC is a unit of Abu Dhabi Power Corporation PJSC and the sole procurer of water and power in the emirate.

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