Abu Dhabi state utility Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) has received proposals from companies for a contract to develop the emirate's fourth utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project.

The Al-Khazna solar independent power producer (IPP) project, also known as PV4, will have an installed capacity of 1,500MW.

According to industry sources, utility developers including a team of China's Jinko Power and Japan's Jera, and another team led by France's EDF Renewables, submitted bids for the contract. It is unclear whether Engie, also of France, submitted a proposal for the contract.

MEED understands that Ewec has yet to open the bids it received on 14 October.

The solar IPP project will be located in Khazna, between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain, and is expected to be commercially operational by 2027.

Ewec requested proposals for the contract to develop and operate the solar IPP scheme in April and initially set the end of August as the last day for bidders to submit their proposals.

The state utility prequalified nine companies and consortiums as managing members and another 10 that can bid as consortium members.

Parties or companies prequalified as managing members are free to bid individually or as part of a consortium. These include:

• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
• EDF Renewables (France)
• International Power (Engie, France)
• Jera Company (Japan)
• Jinko Power (China)
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kowepo, South Korea)
• Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
• Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)
• TotalEnergies Renewables (France)

The following companies can bid as part of a consortium with a managing member: 

• Al-Jomaih Energy & Water (Jenwa, Saudi Arabia)
• Avaada Energy (India)
• Buhur for Investment Company (Saudi Arabia)
• China Machinery Engineering Corporation (China)
• China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Corporation (CPECC, China)
• Kalyon Enerji Yatrimlari (Turkiye)
• Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo, South Korea)
• Orascom Construction (Egypt)
• PowerChina International Group
• Spic Huanghe Hydropower Development (Spic, China)

A transaction advisory team comprising UK-headquartered Ashurst and Alderbrook Finance and Norwegian engineering services firm DNV is advising Ewec on the 1,500MW Al-Khazna IPP scheme.

Solar energy is integral to achieving Abu Dhabi's target of producing nearly 50% of its electricity from renewable and clean energy sources by 2030.

In April, Ewec awarded the contract to develop PV3, the 1,500MW Al-Ajban solar IPP, to a team led by EDF Renewables and including South Korea’s Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo).

A team of Japan's Marubeni and Jinko Power won the contract to develop and operate Abu Dhabi's first utility-scale solar PV project in 2016 in Sweihan, the 934MW Noor Abu Dhabi IPP.

In 2020, a team comprising EDF Renewables and Jinko Power won the contract to develop the 1,500MW Al-Dhafra solar PV, which was inaugurated last year.

Like the first three schemes, the Khazna solar PV project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure.

The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of the entity, while the Abu Dhabi government will retain the remaining equity.

The developer will enter into a long-term power-purchase agreement with Ewec.

Once fully operational, the Khazna solar PV, along with Noor Abu Dhabi, the Al-Dhafra solar PV and Al-Ajban solar PV, will raise Ewec's total installed solar PV capacity to 5.5GW and collectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 8.2 million metric tonnes a year by 2027. 

On 1 October, Ewec issued the expressions of interest notice for a contract to develop the emirate's fifth solar PV in Al-Zarraf.