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The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has announced an invitation to developers and developer consortiums to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of a new wind power farm near the existing utility-scale wind programme in Al Sila, UAE. This greenfield renewable energy project is expected to have a generation capacity of up to 140 megawatts (MW) AC and will significantly enhance the UAE’s wind energy portfolio.
Once operational, the Al Sila Wind project will more than double the nation’s current wind generation capacity, producing enough clean electricity to power 36,000 homes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 190,000 tonnes annually. The project is a vital part of Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035, which aims for 60% of electricity production to come from renewable and clean energy sources.
In combination with the UAE’s existing wind assets, this new project will bring the country’s total wind generation capacity to approximately 240 MW. It is a key element of EWEC’s long-term strategy to diversify the energy mix and advance the UAE’s energy transition towards sustainable sources.
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, commented, “With the new Al Sila Wind project, we will more than double the UAE’s wind generation capacity. This initiative strengthens our commitment to renewable energy, paving the way for further large-scale wind energy deployment in Abu Dhabi.”
The Al Sila Wind project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, and ownership of the wind farm and associated infrastructure, following Abu Dhabi’s independent power project (IPP) programme. Developers will enter into a long-term power purchase agreement with EWEC, the sole procurer of electricity.
Interested developers are invited to submit EOIs by 5 November 2024, 12:00 noon Gulf Standard Time (GST), via email to: sila.wind.project@ewec.ae. Upon reviewing the EOIs, EWEC will issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), outlining the project’s details and the bidding process.
This project marks a significant step forward in the UAE’s journey towards achieving a clean energy future, with wind power playing an increasingly prominent role.
