By:Agbi

The greenfield independent power producer (IPP) will be able to power 160,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 2.4 million metric tonnes annually.

The project will deliver 5 percent of Ewec’s forecasted 36 percent reduction in power emissions intensity by 2030.

As Ewec’s fifth utility-scale solar PV project, Zarraf Solar PV will further the emirate’s plans to increase solar capacity to at least 10 gigawatt (GW) by 2030. No financial details were given.

Ewec CEO Othman Al Ali said solar power generation represents a cost-effective, sustainable and transformative option that accelerates the UAE’s energy transition.

Ewec forecasts that at least 18GW of solar PV will be in operation by 2035, meeting 60 percent of the emirate’s total power demand by renewable and clean energy sources.

The RFP follows the expression of interest (EoI) stage in October 2024. Twenty companies and consortiums submitted EoIs, while 16 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage.

The RFP outlines detailed requirements and proposed technical parameters for the project.

The winner or winning consortium will work on the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure.  

The winning bidder will hold up to 40 percent equity in the project company, with the remaining 60 percent indirectly owned by the Abu Dhabi government.

The solar project will operate under a long-term power purchase agreement with Ewec, structured as an energy purchase agreement. Under this model, the government entity will only pay for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.