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The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has officially opened the call for developers and consortiums to express their interest in constructing a new 400-megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. This greenfield initiative is part of EWEC’s commitment to enhancing the flexibility and reliability of the UAE’s energy system, while also offering services like frequency response and voltage control. The BESS project is a strategic move towards diversifying EWEC’s energy project portfolio with sustainable solutions, aiming to increase solar photovoltaic power capacity to 7.5 gigawatts by 2030. This expansion is expected to decrease the average CO2 intensity from power generation by about 42%, reducing it from 330kg/MWh in 2019 to an estimated 190kg/MWh by 2030.
Othman Al Ali, EWEC’s CEO, highlighted the project’s significance in aligning with Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and broader UAE sustainability and decarbonization efforts. He emphasized the advantages of BESS over traditional storage methods, including its flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. EWEC’s approach to this project is modeled after Abu Dhabi’s independent power project programme, ensuring a long-term agreement with developers for the system’s development, operation, and maintenance.
Developers interested in this opportunity must submit their Expression of Interest by 22 March 2024, 12:00 noon Gulf Standard Time. The submission process will lead to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) stage, offering further project details and bidding criteria.
