Engie and Competitors Compete for 1.5-GW Khazna Solar PV Project in Abu Dhabi

Engie SA along with a consortium of EDF Renewables and Korea Western Power (KOWEPO), is in competition with an alliance of Jinko Power and Jera for the development of the 1.5-GW Khazna solar photovoltaic (PV) project. This major renewable energy initiative is located in the Al Khazna area of Abu Dhabi.

On Wednesday, the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) announced that the French power company and the two competing consortia have submitted their proposals for the project. Following an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage, EWEC shortlisted 19 bidders during the qualification process and invited them to put forth their proposals.

The three proposals will undergo a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation, with the winning bidder expected to be announced by the second quarter of 2025. The successful company will then enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with EWEC, the sole buyer of power and water capacity in Abu Dhabi.

The Khazna solar PV project marks EWEC’s fourth large-scale solar initiative, aiming to generate enough electricity to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE upon completion. This project will elevate EWEC’s total solar PV capacity to around 5.5 GW.

EWEC has set ambitious targets to expand Abu Dhabi’s solar power generation capacity to 13 GW by 2030, with a goal of meeting 60% of the emirate’s total power demand through renewable and clean energy sources by 2035.

Earlier in 2024, EWEC awarded the development of the 1.5-GW Al Ajban solar PV project to an international consortium comprising EDF Renewables, KOWEPO, and UAE-based Masdar as the local partner.