Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has issued request for proposals (RfP) from select developers for the 1,500 MW Zarraf solar photovoltaic project.

EWEC had received expressions of interest from 20 companies and consortiums, with 16 qualifying for the RfP stage. The RfP outlines detailed requirements and technical parameters for the project, allowing potential developers to submit their proposals.

The scope of work includes the development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. Successful developers will own up to 40% of the entity, with the remaining equity held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.

The project will involve a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC which will pay only for the net electricity supplied by the project.

Responses to the RfP are due by Q2 2025.

The project is designed to power approximately 160,000 homes and reduce annual CO2 emissions by up to 2.4 million metric tons, contributing 5% towards EWEC’s target of a 36% reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2030.

The Zarraf solar project supports the EWEC’s goal of expanding Abu Dhabi’s solar capacity to at least 10 GW by 2030. It aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035, which aims to meet 60% of the emirate’s total power demand through renewable and clean energy sources.

The EWEC forecasts that at least 18 GW of solar capacity will be operational in Abu Dhabi by 2035.

In December, EWEC secured approval for four new sites covering an area of approximately 75 square kilometers of land for its wind and solar projects. The solar projects will be located in Al Faya, Al Khazna, and Al Zarraf, as well as one new wind farm in Sila. The renewable energy projects are expected to add 4.5 GW of additional solar capacity and up to 140 MW of new wind capacity to Abu Dhabi.

EWEC has announced the financial close of its 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar project and received three proposals for the development of the 1.5 GW Khazna solar project.

In November 2024, construction officially commenced on the EWEC’s 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar project led by EDF Renewables Middle East in partnership with Masdar and Korea Western Power Co in Abu Dhabi.

Once these projects are commissioned, Abu Dhabi will be home to five of the world’s largest single-site solar projects.