Abu Dhabi is looking for a developer for an energy storage system
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is looking for developers to undertake a 400MW/800MWh standalone greenfield energy storage project in Abu Dhabi.
Request for quotation sent to many companies
EWEC, a leading integrated water and electricity company in the UAE, has invited 27 pre-qualified companies and consortiums to submit proposals for a 400 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Abu Dhabi, which will provide up to 800 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity. After receiving 93 initial bids, EWEC has narrowed down the options to the most promising ones through a detailed analysis. The final responses are expected by the end of 2024.
The selected developer will be responsible for the development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the BESS system and its associated infrastructure. EWEC, part of Abu Dhabi Power Corporation, will enter into a long-term contract with the chosen candidate.
Coordinated EWEC activities
The deployment of BESS systems is designed to enhance the flexibility and stability of Abu Dhabi’s electricity grid. This will help efficiently manage peak demand and integrate more renewable energy sources. Through this strategic project, EWEC is advancing the shift towards large-scale renewable and clean energy, aligning with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s 2035 energy targets and contributing to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
BESS technology will also offer essential services like grid frequency regulation and reserve capacity, boosting supply security and supporting EWEC’s goal of expanding to 7.5 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic capacity by 2030. This increase in renewable energy deployment will help reduce the organization’s carbon footprint from 330 kilograms per megawatt-hour (kg/MWh) in 2019 to an estimated 190 kg/MWh by 2030.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, stated: “The 400 MW BESS project is a crucial milestone in our efforts to improve the power grid’s resilience and efficiency. This utility-scale BESS technology will enable us to integrate more renewable energy from photovoltaics quickly and manage peak demand more effectively. With this project, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s leadership in global energy transformation and advancing our climate neutrality goals. We are excited to collaborate with top-tier partners to bring this vision to life.”
Source: renewablesnow.com