The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has opened submissions for developers and developer consortiums to put forward an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of a new wind farm near the existing utility-scale wind programme in Al Sila, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Al Sila Wind project is a greenfield renewable energy project with a generation capacity of up to 140 MW AC.
When fully operational, officials say this will more than double the existing wind generation capacity in the UAE.
The Al Sila Wind project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the wind farm and associated infrastructure. It follows Abu Dhabi’s independent power project programme, in which developers enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer of electricity.
“Importantly, this new project will pave the way for further large-scale deployment of wind technology in Ahu Dhabi, and by harnessing the power of wind we are not only diversifying our energy portfolio but showcasing that a clean energy future is within reach,” said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, in a statement.
Following a review of the EOIs, EWEC will issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to proceed to the next stage, it was shared.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, 2023 recorded the highest number of new installations in history for onshore wind and the second highest for offshore wind.
Regionally, Abu Dhabi, under the Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035, is aiming to reach 60 per cent of electricity production generated by renewable and clean sources.
However, in a recent review of progress towards the COP28 2030 tripling goals, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) outlined that, except for solar PV, capacity additions for all renewable energy technologies are below the level required to meet the tripling target.
According to the IRENA report, compared to 2023 capacity, onshore wind must triple, and offshore wind must rise by six.