EWEC seeks proposals for 400 MW battery storage project in Abu Dhabi

EWEC, the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, seeking proposals for teh development of an independent greenfield 400 MW/800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Abu Dhabi.

The request for proposals (RFP) is being issued to bidders who passed the qualification process following the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage that took place in April 2024. A total of 93 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs, while 27 companies and consortiums qualified for the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification.

The project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the BESS and associated infrastructure. The chosen developer will enter into a long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer.

EWEC said the BESS project will provide operating reserves and ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation, while improving system operability and enhancing overall network stability.

The project aligns with the company’s strategic vision to sustainably diversify its energy portfolio, which includes increasing its total PV generation capacity to 7.5 GW by 2030.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: “As we commission the development of the UAE’s next-generation energy infrastructure, the 400 MW BESS project marks a key milestone in EWEC’s strategic efforts to enhance the resilience and efficiency of the power network. Utility-scale BESS technology will facilitate our rapid integration of increased amounts of renewable energy from solar PV to the system and enables us to operate and manage peak demand more efficiently.”

Responses to the RFP will be received by Q4 2024.