Developers sought for Abu Dhabi’s Khazna solar plant

Alamy via Reuters

• Clean electricity for 160,000 homes
• 19 companies qualify for next stage
• Utility Ewec has 50% renewables target

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) is seeking developers to build a 1,500 megawatt solar power facility in Abu Dhabi as the emirate ramps up its green energy drive.

The utility has issued a request for proposals to qualified companies that have expressed interest in developing the Khazna Solar Photovoltaic project.

A total of 27 companies submitted expressions of interest last year. Nineteen have qualified for the next stage which is expected to run until the end of September.

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Once fully operational, Khazna will generate enough electricity for about 160,000 homes across the UAE. It is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 2 million metric tonnes per year, equivalent to removing 470,000 cars from the road.

Solar energy is integral to achieving Ewec’s target of producing nearly 50 percent of its electricity from renewable and clean energy sources by 2030.

Khazna – along with Noor Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra Solar PV and Al Ajban Solar PV – will raise Ewec’s total installed solar PV capacity to 5.5 gigawatts and collectively reduce CO2 emissions by more than 8 million metric tonnes per year by 2027. 

The project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure. 

The successful developer will own up to 40 percent of the entity, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government.

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The developer will enter into a long term power purchase agreement with Ewec, the single buyer of power and water capacity and output in Abu Dhabi. 

Ewec CEO Othman Al Ali described Khazna as a “significant milestone” in the company’s solar ambitions which form part of the UAE’s target to be net zero by 2050.

Khazna is part of Abu Dhabi’s wider plans to launch a new solar power project every year for a decade, Ewec strategy and planning executive director Bruce Smith told AGBI in February.