Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) for the development of the 140 MW Al Sila wind power project in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The RfP was sent to 16 companies and consortiums that qualified during the expression of interest phase in October 2024. Responses are due by Q2 2025. 

The project aims to double Abu Dhabi’s wind generation capacity to 240 MW and will be built alongside existing wind projects at Sila, Sir Bani Yas Island, and Delma Island. 

The scope includes the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the wind project and related infrastructure. The successful developer or consortium will hold up to 40% equity, with the remainder indirectly owned by the Abu Dhabi government. A power purchase agreement (PPA) with EWEC will be signed, structured as an energy purchase agreement, where EWEC will pay for the net electrical energy produced by the plant. 

In 2024, EWEC acquired 75 sq km of land in Al Faya, Al Khazna, Al Zarraf, and Al Sila to support the development of 4.5 GW of solar power and 140 MW of wind power. These projects align with EWEC’s goals to reach 10 GW of solar capacity by 2030 and 18 GW by 2035. EWEC is also working towards achieving the 60% clean energy target set by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035. 

Additionally, EWEC issued a RfP for the 1,500 MW Zarraf solar project in January and announced the commencement of the 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar project, led by EDF Renewables Middle East in collaboration with Masdar and Korea Western Power. 

(Mercom)