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Ewec invites Al-Zarraf solar PV bids

9 January 2025

 

State utility Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) has invited qualified companies to submit proposals for a contract to develop Abu Dhabi’s fifth utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power project (IPP).

Ewec said it prequalified 16 companies and consortiums that can bid for the Al-Zarraf solar IPP, also known as PV5, which will have a capacity of 1,500MW.

Ewec received expressions of interest for the contract from 20 companies and consortiums in October.

The solar PV IPP will be located in the emirate’s Al-Dhafra region.

Ewec prequalified the following consortiums and companies that can bid as managing partners for the Al-Zarraf solar IPP:

  • AlJomaih Energy & Water (Saudi Arabia)
  • EDF Renewables (France)
  • International Power (Engie)
  • Jera Nex (Japan)
  • Jinko Power (Hong Kong)
  • Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco, South Korea)
  • Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo)
  • Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
  • SPIC Hunaghe Hydropower Development Company (China)
  • Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)

Ewec prequalified the following companies as consortium members:

  • Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia)
  • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait)
  • China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Company (CPECC, China)
  • Etihad Water & Electricity (UAE)
  • Orascom Construction (Egypt)
  • PowerChina International Group (China)

Ewec said it expects to receive bids for the contract by Q2 2025.

Similar to the first four solar IPPs tendered by Ewec, the Al-Zarraf solar IPP will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the solar PV plant and associated infrastructure.

The successful bidder or consortium will enter into a long-term power-purchase agreement with Ewec as the sole procurer of electricity.

Ewec opened the bids it received for its fourth utility-scale solar project, the Al-Khazna solar IPP or PV4, on 30 October.

Engie offered a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of AED fils 5.35502 ($c1.459) a kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the contract, beating by roughly 3% the second-lowest offer made by a team of China’s Jinko Power and Japan’s Jera of AED fils 5.54126/kWh.

A team of France’s EDF Renewables and its partner, Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo), emerged with the highest offer of AED fils 5.86311/kWh. 

Successful PV bidders

In 2016, 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 Sweihan, the 934MW Noor Abu Dhabi IPP.

Four years later, 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.

In April 2024, Ewec awarded the contract to develop PV3, the 1,500MW Al-Ajban solar IPP, to a team led by EDF Renewables and including Kowepo.

By 2035, Ewec forecasts that at least 18,000MW of solar PV will be in operation, supporting the realisation of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035.

The programme envisages renewable and clean energy sources meeting 60% of the emirate’s total power demand at the end of the forecast period. 

Photo credit: Ewec

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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