Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the UAE’s prominent integrated planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity Company, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of 400MW battery storage system in Abu Dhabi.
The RFP is being issued to the bidders who have successfully passed the qualification process after the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage that took place in April 2024. 93 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 27 of them qualified for RFP stage and then submitted the Statements of Qualification.
EWEC aims to improve the flexibility and stability of Abu Dhabi’s energy network through BESS, which will facilitate peak demand management and promote the integration of renewable energy.
This strategic implementation by EWEC will boost the energy transition to renewable and clean sources at scale and speed, thus enabling the further integration of renewable and clean sources in the region.
The launch of both utility-scale renewable and low-carbon reverse osmosis projects is essential to achieving the goals of Abu Dhabi Department of Energy for 2050 as well as UAE Strategy 2050 and UAE Net Zero 2050.
By providing crucial ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation, BESS technology is set to reinforce the security of supply and support the goal of EWEC to increase its solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to 7.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.
Othman Al Ali CEO – EWEC
“As we commission the development of the UAE’s next-generation energy infrastructure, the 400MW BESS project marks a key milestone in EWEC’s strategic efforts to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the power network. Utility-scale BESS technology will facilitate our rapid integration of increased amounts of renewable energy from solar PV to the system and enables us to operate and manage peak demand more efficiently. Through this strategic project, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s position as leaders of the global energy transition and accelerating the nation’s net-zero goals. We look forward to working with best-in-class partners to bring this vision to fruition, further advancing the energy sector into a more sustainable future.”
This project will imitate the model of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s Independent Power Producer (IPP), where developers sign long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer. This includes the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the BESS system and related infrastructure.
