UAE’s EWEC invites EOI for 400MW BESS power project

The EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi on Thursday (March 7) invited developers and developer consortium to submit an expression of interest for the development of 400 MW of battery energy storage system project.

Once operational, the independent 400MW BESS power project will contribute toward EWEC's decarbonization strategy and accelerate the deployment and utilization of renewable energy within the UAE. The BESS is expected to provide additional flexibility to the system and ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation.

"This project is a key part of our strategy to achieve the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and supports the UAE's wider sustainability and decarbonization objectives," said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC.

"Compared to traditional grid storage solutions, BESS offers unmatched advantages, including increased flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved efficiency. EWEC continues to see BESS as a critical investment to manage system operability when large amounts of renewables are synchronized to the power system."

The project follows the model Emirate of Abu Dhabi independent power project program, where developers enter into a long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer. The project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the BESS system and associated infrastructure. EWEC noted.

The last date to submit EoI is March 22, 2024.