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The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading authority in coordinating water and electricity supply across the UAE, announced an open invitation for developers and developer consortiums to express their interest in developing a pioneering 400-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) power project.
The deployment of BESS technology aims to enhance system flexibility and provide ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation. This initiative aligns with EWEC’s strategic vision to diversify its energy portfolio sustainably and elevate its total solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation capacity to 7.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. By integrating these strategic renewable energy projects, EWEC anticipates reducing its average carbon dioxide intensity from power generation by around 42 per cent, from 330 kilograms per megawatt-hour (kg/MWh) in 2019 to an estimated 190 kg/MWh by 2030.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, emphasized the significance of this project in realizing the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and supporting the UAE’s broader sustainability and decarbonization objectives. Al Ali highlighted the unparalleled advantages of BESS, including enhanced flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved efficiency, emphasizing its critical role in managing system operability amid increasing renewable energy integration.
The project will follow the successful model of Abu Dhabi’s independent power project programme, where developers engage in long-term agreements with EWEC as the sole procurer. Developers will be responsible for the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the BESS system and associated infrastructure.
Interested parties are invited to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) by the deadline of March 22, 2024, at 12:00 noon Gulf Standard Time (GST). Subsequently, following a review of the EOIs, EWEC will issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to parties advancing to the next stage, providing comprehensive details on the project, pre-qualification criteria, and the bidding process.
This initiative underscores EWEC’s commitment to spearheading the UAE’s energy transition and underscores the nation’s dedication to sustainable and innovative energy solutions. |
