UAE-based EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of an independent greenfield 400-megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
The request to qualified developers and developer consortiums relates to a power project in Abu Dhabi to provide up to 800 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.
The RFP is being issued to bidders who passed the qualification process following the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage in April 2024.
A total of 93 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 27 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification.
The project will closely follow the model of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s successful Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme, it was shared, where developers enter into a long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer.
It will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the BESS system and associated infrastructure.
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: “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.”