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Abu Dhabi moves ahead with AI power plants

4 December 2024

 

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Abu Dhabi state utility and offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) is understood to be working with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) to implement the power plant projects that support the UAE capital’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.

According to an industry source, the planned open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) power generation plant project in Abu Dhabi’s Al-Dhafra region, which Taqa is procuring on a fast-track basis, is designed to provide backup power to the round-the-clock (RTC) solar independent power project (IPP) that Masdar is developing.

MEED previously reported that Taqa was evaluating the proposals it received for a contract to build the Al-Dhafra OCGT plant, which is expected to have an installed capacity of between 1,000MW and 1,100MW.

Taqa received engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) proposals for the contract in late September.

Related read: Region plays high-stakes AI game

Separately, Masdar is procuring a solar IPP to provide RTC power during the summer months.

The solar IPP capacity being considered is about 5,000MW, and the battery energy storage system (bess) is approximately 20 gigawatt-hours. This would enable approximately 1,000MW of RTC or 24×7 power between April and October of every year, industry sources tell MEED.

One of the sources said these fast-track projects comprise the AI strategy’s first phase, with Ewec planning to publicly tender the succeeding phase or phases of the project.

The UAE National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 has set eight strategic objectives, including building a reputation as an AI destination, deploying AI in priority sectors, attracting AI talent and ensuring strong governance and effective regulation.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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