Telangana Invites Bids for DPR of 56 MW Solar Projects

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Alpex Solar Posts 423% YoY Profit Increase in Q3, Expands Module Capacity  

ReNew’s Q3 FY 2025 Revenue Up Slightly, Lower Wind PLF Bites

Daily News Wrap-Up: Government Amends Renewable Project Bidding Guidelines

CERC Adopts Tariffs for SECI’s 1.2 GW Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Projects

Vikram Solar Boosts Module Production with 1 GW Expansion in West Bengal

Madhya Pradesh Floats Tenders for 2.21 MW Rooftop Solar Projects

Record 1.7 GW Community Solar Added in the U.S. in 2024; Long-Term Growth Uncertain


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					</table><p>The Ministry of Power has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rec-silicons-revenue-falls-shuts-polysilicon-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> tariff-based competitive bidding guidelines to procure stored energy from existing, under-construction, or new pumped storage projects. The draft policy was issued in August last year. According to the National Electricity Plan 2023, there will be a need for approximately 74 GW/411 GWh of energy storage systems by 2031-32. This includes 27 GW/175 GWh from PSP and 47 GW/236 GWh from battery energy storage systems.</p>
<p>Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/seci-500-mw-solar-projects-tranche-xix" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to select developers to set up 500 MW of interstate transmission system-connected solar power projects (Tranche XIX). They must also pay success charges of ₹100,000 (~$1,151)/MW of contracted capacity to SECI to cover administrative costs, project monitoring, and coordination with state authorities. They must use only commercially established and operational technologies to minimize the technology risk and to achieve timely commencement of power supply from the projects. They must also use modules listed in the latest Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.</p>
<p>Norway-based silicon material manufacturer REC Silicon <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/rec-silicons-revenue-falls-shuts-polysilicon-facility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> a revenue of $29.7 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, a 26.5% year-over-year decline from $40.4 million. The company’s earnings per share came at a loss of $0.75 per share, compared to a profit of $0.25 in Q4 2023. It suffered earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization loss of $5.3 million, compared to the $5.4 million loss in the same quarter the previous year.</p>
<p>Emirates Water and Electricity Company has <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ewec-floats-tender-for-140-mw-wind-project-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for proposal (RfP) to set up the 140 MW Al Sila wind power project in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The RfP was issued to 16 companies and consortiums who qualified in the expression of interest round in October 2024. The project is expected to double Abu Dhabi’s wind generation capacity to 240 MW. It will be built on Abu Dhabi’s existing wind projects at Sila, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Delma Island. A successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of the entity.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: MoP Issues Pumped Storage Project Bidding Guidelines


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					</table><p>Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="https://www.ewec.ae/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWEC</a>) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to set up the 140 MW Al Sila wind power project in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.</p>
<p>The RfP was issued to 16 companies and consortiums who qualified in the expression of interest round in October 2024.</p>
<p>Responses to the RfP are due by Q2 2025.</p>
<p>The project is expected to double Abu Dhabi&#8217;s wind generation capacity to 240 MW.</p>
<p>The project will be built on Abu Dhabi&#8217;s existing wind projects at Sila, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Delma Island.</p>
<p>The scope of work involves the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the wind project and associated infrastructure.</p>
<p>A successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of the entity, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.</p>
<p>The developer will enter into a power purchase agreement with EWEC.</p>
<p>The power purchase agreement will be structured as an energy purchase agreement where EWEC will only pay for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.</p>
<p>In 2024, EWEC acquired 75 sq km of land in Al Faya, Al Khazna, Al Zarraf, and Al Sila to develop 4.5 GW solar power and 140 MW wind power projects in Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>The solar power projects will support EWEC&#8217;s delivery of 10 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030 and 18 GW by 2035.</p>
<p>As per the mandates, EWEC must achieve the 60% clean energy target outlined in the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy&#8217;s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>In January, EWEC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ewec-1500-mw-zarraf-solar-project-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a RfP from select developers for the 1,500 MW Zarraf solar project.</p>
<p>In 2024, EWEC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/masdar-partners-begin-construction-of-1-5-gw-al-ajban-solar-project-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the commencement of a 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar project led by EDF Renewables Middle East in partnership with Masdar and Korea Western Power Coin Abu Dhabi.</p>


EWEC Floats Tender for 140 MW Wind Project in Abu Dhabi


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					</table><p>The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/jerc-releases-draft-resource-adequacy-regulations-for-goa-and-union-territories" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> draft resource adequacy regulations for the state of Goa and the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. The regulations aim to enable the implementation of the resource adequacy framework by outlining a mechanism for planning the generation and transmission of resources to reliably meet the projected demand in compliance with specified reliability standards.</p>
<p>The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uttar-pradesh-deviations-solar-tender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency’s (UPNEDA) revised tender to supply 3,205 MW of solar power to Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Component C2. Component (C-2) under the KUSUM program includes the solarization of segregated agriculture feeders in the state.</p>
<p>THDC India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/thdc-india-floats-tender-for-100-mw-solar-projects-in-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to set up 100.1 MW/135 MWp ground-mounted solar power projects at Karnataka Power Corporation’s thermal projects in Bellary and Raichur, Karnataka. Selected bidders must design, engineer, procure, and supply 100.1MW/135.2 MWp solar projects by empanelled vendors of THDC in an engineering procurement and construction mode. They must also operate and maintain the facilities for three years.</p>
<p>Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ewec-1500-mw-zarraf-solar-project-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> 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.</p>
<p>UPNEDA <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/uttar-pradesh-invites-eoi-for-1-3-gw-solar-projects-in-jhansi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> expressions of interest for 1.3 GW solar power projects in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The projects will be developed on a build-own-operate basis in Garautha and Mauranipur tehsils. The projects will be developed on 5,508 acres of land, comprising 957 acres of government land leased to the developers for 30 years and 4,551 acres of private land to be arranged by the developers. The projects will also utilize wastelands. The land is distributed across three contiguous parcels in nine villages of the Garautha tehsil and one contiguous parcel in a village of the Mauranipur tehsil.</p>
<p>Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/odisha-issues-empanelment-tender-for-10-mw-rooftop-solar-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for empanelment for the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar systems of up to 10 MW cumulative capacity. Bids must be submitted by January 27, 2025. Selected bidders must ensure a remote communication facility is available at each project location. Successful bidders must commission the net meter at the project site and complete the load/contract demand enhancement. They must undertake scheduled, corrective, and breakdown maintenance for five years from the contract award.</p>
<p>OREDA <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/odisha-issues-eoi-for-rooftop-solar-feasibility-survey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> expressions of interest to conduct detailed surveys and prepare feasibility reports for grid-connected rooftop solar power projects. OREDA plans to install solar projects on 1,502 government buildings across the state, covering areas under four distribution companies — TP Central Odisha, TP Western Odisha, TP Northern Odisha, and TP Southern Odisha. Bids must be submitted by February 10, 2025. Bids will be opened on February 15. Bidders must submit a bid security of ₹2 million (~$23,095), an application fee of ₹10,000 (~$115.48) plus 18% GST, and a processing fee of ₹1,000 (~$11.55) plus 18% GST.</p>
<p>The Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPCL) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/chennai-petroleum-corporation-invites-bids-for-2-kta-green-hydrogen-unit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a tender to install a green hydrogen generation unit of 2 KTA capacity on a build, own, and operate basis at CPCL’s Manali Refinery, Chennai. Bidders must furnish a 1% performance guarantee of the project cost. Selected bidders must source renewable energy from their solar or wind projects or purchase it from third-party energy producers during the contractual period.</p>
<p>China’s Ministry of Commerce <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/china-anti-dumping-polysilicon-us-korea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decided</a> to initiate a sunset review investigation into anti-dumping duties applicable to solar-grade polysilicon imports from the U.S. and South Korea starting January 14, 2025. The investigation period is from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, and the injury investigation period is from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024. The investigation covers solar-grade polysilicon products mainly used for producing monocrystalline silicon rods and polysilicon ingots, essential for crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: JERC’s Draft Resource Adequacy Regulations for Goa and UTs


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					</table><p>Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="https://www.ewec.ae/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWEC</a>) has issued request for proposals (RfP) from select developers for the 1,500 MW Zarraf solar photovoltaic project.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The project will involve a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC which will pay only for the net electricity supplied by the project.</p>
<p>Responses to the RfP are due by Q2 2025.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The Zarraf solar project supports the EWEC&#8217;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&#8217;s total power demand through renewable and clean energy sources.</p>
<p>The EWEC forecasts that at least 18 GW of solar capacity will be operational in Abu Dhabi by 2035.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>In November 2024, construction officially <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/masdar-partners-begin-construction-of-1-5-gw-al-ajban-solar-project-in-abu-dhabi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commenced</a> 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.</p>
<p>Once these projects are commissioned, Abu Dhabi will be home to five of the world’s largest single-site solar projects.</p>


EWEC Invites Bids for 1,500 MW Zarraf Solar Project in Abu Dhabi


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					</table><p>Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="https://www.ewec.ae/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWEC</a>) has invited bids to develop the 1.5 GW Khazna solar power project in Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>The scope of work will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the project and associated infrastructure.</p>
<p>The last day to submit the bids is October 2, 2023.</p>
<p>The project will follow the independent power project program of Abu Dhabi, where developers enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer of electricity.</p>
<p>Once fully operational, the greenfield solar power project will generate enough electricity for approximately 160,000 homes across the United Arab Emirates. It is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tons per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road.</p>
<p>The project&#8217;s development aligns with the company’s plan to build additional renewable energy projects that increase its total solar power generation capacity to 7.3 GW by 2030.</p>
<p>“Solar energy is an integral pillar of EWEC’s strategy in transitioning our portfolio to a low-carbon system and decarbonizing electricity production. We continue to strategically invest in developing world-leading renewable projects that significantly accelerate our journey to meeting 60% of Abu Dhabi’s total power demand from renewable and clean energy sources by 2035 and actively contributing to achieving the UAE’s sustainability objectives,” said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC.</p>
<p>EWEC also plans to commission at least two additional 1.5 GW solar projects, in line with its vision to add an average of 1 GW of solar capacity per year for the next decade.</p>
<p>In January, EWEC <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/emirates-utility-company-for-1-5-gw-solar-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to develop the 1.5 GW solar power project in the Ajban area of Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>Earlier, the UAE government-owned renewable energy company Masdar <a href="https://mercomindia.com/uaes-masdar-to-develop-5-gw-renewable-projects-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> agreements with Angola, Uganda, and Zambia to develop renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of up to 5 GW to help African nations make the energy transition.</p>


Abu Dhabi Invites Bids for 1.5 GW Khazna Solar Power Project


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					</table><p>The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="https://www.ewec.ae/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EWEC)</a> has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to develop a 1.5 GW solar photovoltaic (PV) power project in the Ajban area of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>The company, which deals with the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing, and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, has extended the proposals to 19 out of the 43 companies and consortiums who expressed interest and qualified for the RFP stage.</p>
<p>The bidders must submit their responses to the RfP by the end of the first quarter of 2023. EWEC will then hold a public event to confirm the companies and consortiums who submit proposals.</p>
<p>The project&#8217;s scope will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the project and associated infrastructure.</p>
<p>The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of the project, while the remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government.</p>
<p>The developer must enter into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with EWEC. The PPA will be structured as an energy purchase agreement whereby EWEC will pay only for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.</p>
<p>The Al Ajban Solar PV project is a greenfield solar project with a power generation capacity, enough to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE.</p>
<p>The project, once commissioned, is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s CO2 emissions by up to 2.4 million metric tons per year and increase solar energy capacity to approximately 4 GW.</p>
<p>“Increased solar power generation is a key pillar in our strategic plan to fundamentally transition our energy generation to a low carbon system. The Al Ajban Solar PV Project will become the third world leading solar power project created by EWEC, making Abu Dhabi and the UAE home to the three largest single-site solar power plants,” Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said.</p>
<p>Along with the two previous large-scale solar PV projects tendered by EWEC — Noor Abu Dhabi and the Al Dhafra solar PV project &#8212;  the Al Ajban project will play a pivotal role in enabling the UAE to achieve its net zero targets by 2050 as well as UAE Energy Strategy 2050.</p>
<p>In 2020, due to the pandemic, the planned public opening of the commercial tariffs for the 1.5 GW Al-Dhafra solar project was <a href="https://mercomindia.com/abu-dhabi-postpones-public-opening-bids-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">postponed</a>.</p>
<p>Recently, UAE government-owned renewable energy company Masdar <a href="https://mercomindia.com/uaes-masdar-to-develop-5-gw-renewable-projects-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> agreements with Angola, Uganda, and Zambia to develop renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of up to 5 GW to help African nations make the energy transition.</p>


Emirates Utility Company Issues Tender for 1.5 GW Solar Project

<p>The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="http://www.ewec.ae/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EWEC</a>) announced that it has awarded the 2 GW Al Dhafra solar PV project to a consortium comprising Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (<a href="https://www.taqa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">TAQA</a>), <a href="https://masdar.ae/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Masdar</a>, <a href="http://www.jinkopower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">JinkoPower</a>, and <a href="https://www.edf.fr/en/meta-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EDF</a>.</p>
<p>EWEC replaced the earlier Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC) that was merged within the Ministry of Energy in 2018. EWEC said that it signed the power purchase agreement (PPA) and shareholder agreement with the consortium led by TAQA and Masdar. The company said that it <a href="https://mercomindia.com/abu-dhabi-2-gw-solar-project-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">set the tariff</a> for solar energy at United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) 0.0497 (~$0.0135)/kWh based on the levelized cost of electricity.</p>
<p>The financial closure of the projects is expected to take place in the third quarter of 2020, according to the company’s press statement. In this project, Masdar and TAQA will own 60%, while JinkoPower and EDF will own the remaining 40%, it added.</p>
<p>According to the company’s press release, the project would be located approximately 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city, and the project would expand Abu Dhabi’s solar power capacity to approximately 3.2 GW. The solar project could help reduce carbon dioxide emission by nearly 2.4 million metric tons annually, it added.</p>
<p>“We are working to secure long-term energy supply and reinforce solar power’s integral role in meeting current and future energy needs. Combined with key technological advances, the Al Dhafra Solar PV project will have a significant impact on diversifying the approach to our current electricity supply, and drive our strategic plan to further contribute towards sector’s transformation in water and electricity production, as we develop low-carbon grid in the UAE,” said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC.</p>
<p>In February 2019, the Emirates Water and Electricity Company had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/eoi-2-gw-solar-al-dafra-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invited expressions of interest</a> for the development of a 2 GW solar power project at Al Dhafra.</p>
<p>Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Emirates Water &amp; Electricity Company had previously <a href="https://mercomindia.com/abu-dhabi-postpones-public-opening-bids-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">postponed</a> the planned public opening of the commercial tariffs for the Al-Dhafra solar project.</p>
<p>Image credit: Jinko Power</p>


Masdar, Jinko, and TAQA to Develop UAE’s 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Project

<p>The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (<a href="http://www.ewec.ae/en/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EWEC</a>), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Power Corporation (<a href="http://www.abudhabipower.ae/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ADPower</a>), has received the lowest ever tariff for its 2 GW solar project. The record low tariff globally was recorded at AED 0.0497 ($0.0135)/kWh.</p>
<p>The Al Dhafra solar PV project is expected to power approximately 160,000 households across the UAE.</p>
<p>In its press release, the company said that AD Power’s subsidiary, EWEC, delivered a virtual read-out of five consortia’s technical and commercial bids for the 2 GW solar independent power producer (IPP) project in Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>The project will be almost double the size of the approximately 1.2 GW <a href="https://mercomindia.com/single-site-solar-sweihan-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noor Abu Dhabi solar project</a> – one of the largest operational solar PV projects in the world – which commenced commercial operations in April 2019.</p>
<p>The set tariff is on a Levelized Electricity Cost (LEC) basis and is approximately 44% lower than the tariff set three years ago on the Noor Abu Dhabi project. The Noor project had attracted a tariff of AED 0.08888 ($0.0242)/kWh.</p>
<p>According to the statement, once operational, the Al Dhafra Solar PV project will lift Abu Dhabi’s total solar power generation capacity to approximately 3.2 GW. This will reduce the Emirate’s carbon emissions by more than 3.6 million metric tons per year – equal to removing around 720,000 cars from the road.</p>
<p>Jasim Husain Thabet, chief executive officer AD Power, said, “The water and electricity sector intends to play a critical role in meeting the target of having 50% of Abu Dhabi’s energy needs served from renewable and clean energy sources by 2030, as well as the reduction of the generation system’s average carbon intensity by more than 70%, compared to 2015. The Al Dhafra Solar PV project will play a critical role in delivering these ambitions.”</p>
<p>The Al Dhafra solar PV project will include the financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar project, including the installation of solar PV modules, inverters, connection to the transmission network, and associated facilities, the company added.</p>
<p>Othman Al Ali, chief executive officer of EWEC, said, “The Al Dhafra Solar PV project represents a major milestone in EWEC’s ambitious and strategic shift towards clean power generation in the Emirate. The cost-competitiveness of the bids received is truly remarkable – positioning Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s most attractive markets for solar energy development and reinforcing the economic benefits now achievable through renewable technologies. Securing such competitive tariffs on our energy projects is fundamental to support economic growth across all sectors in the UAE. We look forward to signing the Power Purchase Agreement and to delivering the project in Q2 2022.”</p>
<p>In February 2019, the Emirates Water and Electricity Company had <a href="https://mercomindia.com/eoi-2-gw-solar-al-dafra-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invited expressions of interest</a> for the development of a 2 GW solar power project at Al Dafra, 50 kilometers from Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>In July 2019, EWEC received 48 expressions of interest from potential bidders for the Al Dhafra Solar PV project, out of which 24 bidders were qualified to bid for the project after submitting Statements of Qualification. In November 2019, five bids were received for both the Al Dhafra Solar PV projects.</p>
<p>Due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Emirates Water &amp; Electricity Company had previously <a href="https://mercomindia.com/abu-dhabi-postpones-public-opening-bids-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">postponed</a> the planned public opening of the commercial tariffs for the 1.5 GW Al-Dhafra solar project, as previously reported by Mercom.</p>
<p>Image credit: Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV)</p>


Abu Dhabi’s 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Project Records World’s Lowest Tariff of $0.0135/kWh

<p>Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single-site solar power project located at Sweihan which has an installed capacity of 1,177 MW, has been successfully commissioned.</p>
<p>The project is a Joint Venture (JV) between the government of Abu Dhabi and a consortium comprising Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and China’s Jinko Solar Holding, according to a statement from the consortium partner Marubeni.</p>
<p>The joint venture has an equity holding of 20% by Marubeni Corporation Japan, another 20% by China’s Jinko solar, and the state-owned Abu Dhabi Power Corporation holding the controlling equity of 60%.</p>
<p>The full power generated from the Sweihan project will be sold to the <em>Emirates</em> Water and Electricity Company (<em>EWEC</em>) through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 25 years.</p>
<p>The mega solar power project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by one million metric tons in a year and cater to the electricity demands of about 90,000 people. The project is the culmination of the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) energy strategy 2050, which was launched back in 2017.</p>
<p>The UAE is poised to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix up to 50% by 2050, therefore reducing the carbon footprint of power generation from the use of natural gas by 70%.</p>
<p>The Noor Abu Dhabi has been built at a whopping cost of Dh 3.2 billion ($871.2 million) and consists of more than 3.2 million solar PV panels. The project has attracted the world’s most competitive tariff of 8.888 fils ($0.0242)/kWh.</p>
<p>The loan agreement for the project was signed in May of 2017, with co-financing among eight commercial banks including, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Limited (currently renamed to MUFG Bank), Norinchukin Bank and Banking Corporation, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The construction for the project began on schedule and was completed within 23 months as originally planned, according to the press statement.</p>
<p>Back in 2017, <a href="https://mercomindia.com/sterling-wilson-develop-worlds-largest-1177-mw-solar-project-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mercom</a> had reported about Sterling &amp; Wilson winning an engineering procurement and construction (EPC) bid to develop this 1,177 MW solar project in Sweihan in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, the EWEC, invited expressions of interest for the development of 2 GW of solar power projects at <a href="https://mercomindia.com/eoi-2-gw-solar-al-dafra-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Al Dafra</a>, 50 kilometers from Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p><a href="https://mercomindia.com/sterling-wilson-develop-worlds-largest-1177-mw-solar-project-abu-dhabi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Last year</a>, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (<a href="https://www.adfd.ae/english/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ADFD</a>) had committed $50 million for renewable energy projects that are recommended by the International Renewable Energy Agency (<a href="https://www.irena.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IRENA</a>). The ADFD and IRENA had invited applications for more than $50 million in funding through the IRENA-ADFD project facility.</p>
<p>Image credit: EWEC, Abu Dhabi</p>


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