Abu Dhabi’s EWEC awards contract for ‘world’s largest’ solar power plant

Abu Dhabi’s EWEC awards contract for ‘world’s largest’ solar power plant

The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has awarded the contract for the 2GW Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project to a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Masdar.

The solar power plant in Abu Dhabi - set to be the world's largest when operational - will produce electricity at one of the most cost-competitive tariffs for solar PV energy, set at Dhs4.97 fils/kWh ($1.35 cents/kWh).

The Independent Power Producer (IPP) project is expected to provide approximately 160,000 households across the UAE with electricity.

It will be larger than TAQA's existing 1.2GW 'Noor Abu Dhabi' solar plant, which is currently the world's largest operational single-project solar PV plant.

Once fully operational, the plant will increase Abu Dhabi's solar power capacity to approximately 3.2GW.

Read: New record-breaking solar plant announced for Abu Dhabi

It is also expected to reduce the emirate's CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tonnes per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road when completed.

"We are working to secure long-term energy supply and reinforce solar power's integral role in meeting current and future energy needs,“ said Othman Al Ali, chief executive officer of EWEC.

"Combined with key technological advances, the Al Dhafra Solar