EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) has awarded the development of the utility-scale solar power plant to an international consortium of EDF Renewables and Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo), and Masdar as the local shareholder.
The 1.5-gigawatt (AC) Al Ajban Solar PV Independent Power Project is set to be commercially operational in the third quarter of 2026 and will generate enough electricity to power 160,000 households across the UAE.
Further, Al Ajban Solar PV will make the UAE home to four of the world’s largest single-site solar power plants, three of which are located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
It is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s carbon emissions by 2.4 million metric tonnes per year.
Following the award, the project’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed by EWEC and stakeholders.
It is structured as an energy purchase agreement whereby EWEC will pay only for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant.
Under the terms of the PPA, the consortium will design, finance, build and operate the plant, which will be located in Al Ajban, 70km northeast of Abu Dhabi.
HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President, said: “The UAE was the setting for the historic UAE Consensus achieved at COP28 and it is fitting that this latest ambitious solar power project will make our nation home to four of the largest single-site plants on the planet. The UAE is leading by example and matching words with actions in the global effort to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, and keep the ambition of 1.5°C within reach.”
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: “Al Ajban Solar PV is EWEC’s third world-leading solar power project, and it demonstrates that we remain focused on realising a resilient and sustainable future for the UAE. Aligned with our strategic approach to decarbonising the energy sector and long-term energy security, EWEC is setting a global benchmark for utility-scale renewable energy projects that accelerate energy transition and sustainability objectives.”
Al Ali added: “Our focus extends beyond the immediate benefits, and our advanced techno-economic analysis demonstrates the vital role that solar power plays in meeting both current and future energy demand of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. We look forward to collaborating with our strategic partners to engage in this transformative journey.”
Mohamed Jameel Al-Ramahi, Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Building on the country’s position as a global leader in the adoption of solar technologies, Al Ajban Solar PV is set to be a world-class project upon completion and will further support the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative and the global drive to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 set out in the UAE Consensus.”