On July 3rd, 2019, Emirates Water and Electricity Company announced a tender for the construction and development of a 2,000 MW solar power project in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra area.
This new project is part of a series of projects adopted by the Supreme Committee for Abu Dhabi’s Water and Electricity. The project will span an area of 20 km2 and will have nearly twice as much production capacity as Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest independent solar power plant.
The new project is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2022, which will increase the total capacity of solar energy in Abu Dhabi to approximately 3,200 MW.
This comes after 48 major global and local developers have expressed interest in the project. The selected developers will receive a 40% stake in the project, while the remaining stake will be owned by local authorities, to be in line with the independent energy and water production program launched by the government of Abu Dhabi in 1998. All is according to a press release issued by the Emirates Water and Electricity Company.
“The new solar energy project in Al Dhafra represents a new milestone in the company’s commitment to the UAE’s 2050 Energy Strategy, which aims to increase the contribution of clean energy to the energy mix in the UAE.” “The strong interest in this project is a proof of the attractiveness of our partnership model and the competitiveness and benefits of the renewable energy sector in the UAE.” *Said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Water and Electricity Company.
NßN Tip: Othman Al Ali joined Emirates Water and Electricity Company, on June 26th, 2019, from the Federal Electricity and Water Authority, where he served as Director of Financial Management. He has experience in the private and public sectors for up to 20 years, working in several positions in the utilities and banking sectors within a number of federal government bodies.
