Consortium signs PPA with EWEC for a 2 GW solar power plant
The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the coordination of planning, purchasing and providing of water and electricity across the UAE, announced the award for the world’s largest solar power plant.
The project was awarded to a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Masdar, with partners EDF and JinkoPower, for the development of the 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Producer (IPP) project located 35km from Abu Dhabi city. The project’s power purchase agreement (PPA) and shareholders’ agreement were signed with EWEC.
The rigorous procurement process resulted in one of the most cost-competitive tariffs for solar PV energy. Upon full commercial operation, the plant is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2.4mn MT per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road.
“We are delighted to work with our partners and sign a PPA with a record-low tariff for solar power. We are working to secure long-term energy supply and reinforce solar power’s integral role in meeting current and future energy needs,” affirmed Othman Al Ali, CEO, EWEC.
“Al Dhafra Solar PV plant is a benchmark project for our nation and the global energy sector. Once fully operational, the plant will increase Abu Dhabi’s solar power capacity to approximately 3.2 GW,” observed Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director, TAQA.
The Al Dhafra Solar PV project is expected to provide approximately 160,000 households across the UAE with electricity. It will be larger than TAQA’s existing 1.2 GW ‘Noor Abu Dhabi’ solar plant, which is currently the world’s largest operational single-project solar PV plant.
“At Masdar, we are honoured to join EWEC, TAQA, EDF, JinkoPower, and the many other prestigious partners involved in this outstanding project,” remarked Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.
“The project will use EDF’s proven industrial abilities and the latest in crystalline, bifacial solar technology delivering electricity to the highest efficiency and at a world record-low tariff in such irradiation conditions,” commented Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice-President Renewable Energies and CEO,EDF Renewables.
“Jinko and our partners are proud to begin to execute the world’s largest PV project and diligently deliver the latest world class technology and construction methods,” noted Charles Bai, President, JinkoPower International Business.
