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Abu Dhabi receives Al-Nouf prequalifications

14 April 2025

 

State utility and offtaker Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) has received statements of qualifications (SoQs) for a contract to develop a new combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power generation plant in Abu Dhabi.

The CCGT plant will be located at the Al-Nouf complex, 30 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi.

The Al-Nouf 1 independent power project (IPP) will have a net generation capacity of approximately 3.3GW.

MEED understands that Ewec has been discussing support for the prospective bidders in terms of the procurement process for the necessary gas turbines with original equipment manufacturers.

The project’s initial procurement timeline involves issuing the request for proposals (RFPs) before the end of March and submitting the bids by late August.

AI support fleet

The CCGT plant, initially reported as part of the Abu Dhabi fleet generation planned to support the UAE capital’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, is expected to reach commercial operations by June 2029.

The other generation projects supporting Abu Dhabi’s AI plans include the Dhafra open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) project, which Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) will own and operate, as well as the 5.2GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plus 19GWh battery energy storage system project, which Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) will develop.

Major capacity buildout

Ewec is undertaking a substantial capacity buildout to support the emirate’s net-zero, energy diversification and AI strategies.

It received a single proposal for a contract to develop the Taweelah C IPP project in late February.   

The Taweelah C IPP will have a generation capacity of up to 2,500MW and is expected to reach commercial operations in the third quarter of 2028.

Industry sources suggest that UAE-based Etihad Water & Electricity (Etihad WE) submitted the lone bid for the contract.

The Taweelah C IPP is the first gas-fired power plant project to be procured by Abu Dhabi since 2020, when Ewec awarded Japan’s Marubeni Corporation the contract to develop the Fujairah 3 IPP.

The bid evaluation process is under way for the Madinat Zayed open-cycle gas turbine IPP. The power plant is expected to begin commercial operations in Q3 2027. It will provide up to 1,500MW of backup generation, which can be operational “at very short notice”. 

The tendering proceedings are under way for three renewable energy IPPs: the Al-Khazna and Al-Zarraf solar PV and Al-Sila wind facilities, and Abu Dhabi’s first independent battery energy storage system plant, Bess 1.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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