EWEC seeks proposals for 1,500 MW Zarraf solar plant

This will power 160,000 homes.

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of the 1,500 megawatt Zarraf Solar PV independent power producer project.

Located in the Al Zarraf area of the Al Dhafra Region, the project is one of the world’s largest single-site solar facilities with its power generation capacity that can power 160,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by up to 2.4 million metric tonnes annually. It will deliver 5% of EWEC’s forecasted 36% reduction in power emissions intensity by 2030.

The Zarraf plant will be EWEC’s and Abu Dhabi’s fifth solar project that will contribute to the former’s plan to increase Abu Dhabi’s solar power capacity to at least 10 gigawatts  by 2030.

The project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant and associated infrastructure. The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of the entity, whilst the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government.

The successful developer will enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC. This will be structured as an energy purchase agreement whereby the latter will pay only for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.

Responses to the RFP are due by second quarter 2025.