Frontrunner emerges for 1.5GW Abu Dhabi solar project
The consortium led by France’s EDF and China’s Jinko Power is the frontrunner to win the contract to develop the planned 1.5GW Al-Dhafra photovoltaic (PV) solar project in Abu Dhabi, according to sources close to the project.
Energy & Utilities had previously reported that the five groups bidding for the contract had submitted revised proposals on 1 March, after the consortiums had submitted original proposals on 21 November.
The client had been preparing to open proposals during a public read-out on 18 March, however this was postponed due to the restrictions placed on public gatherings as a result of the Covid-19 virus outbreak.
According to sources close to the project, the selection of EDF/Jinko consortium as preferred bidder has been approved by the client, Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) and its parent company ADPower, and is in the final stages of gaining approval from the emirate’s Higher Committee of Energy.
The following five bidders had submitted original proposals on 21 November:
- Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)/ Shanghai Electric (China)
- EDF (France)/ Jinko Power (China)
- Engie (France)/ AlFanar (Saudi Arabia)
- Softbank Energy (Japan)/ Eni (Italy)
- Total (France)/ Marubeni (Japan)
The project will involve the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the solar plant under a long-term power purchase agreement. The successful developer will form a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) company in partnership with Ewec. The successful developer will own up to 40 per cent of the SPV, with the Abu Dhabi government to hold the remaining 60 per cent stake.
The project will be Abu Dhabi’s second major PV solar scheme.
In February 2017, the emirate awarded a contract to a consortium led by Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and China’s Jinko Solar to develop a 1,177MW PV solar IPP at Sweihan, the world’s largest single-site solar project. The Sweihan IPP was fully commissioned in June 2019.
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