French company EDF Power Solutions and South Korean operator Korea Western Power Co., Ltd. (KOWEPO) have secured the contract to develop the Al Zarraf photovoltaic solar project, with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
The project was awarded through a competitive tender organised by Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), Abu Dhabi’s electricity authority. The announcement was made at the World Utilities Congress, where a joint development agreement was signed by the parties. EDF confirmed the information on June 2 in a press release.
Ownership and project structure
According to the terms of the tender, EDF and KOWEPO will jointly hold up to 40% of the project’s equity, with the remaining 60% indirectly owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The site will be developed under an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
The Al Zarraf project is among the most significant solar contracts recently awarded in the region. Sixteen companies and consortia were prequalified during the bidding process, according to EDF.
Deployment and future output
Once operational, the plant is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the annual consumption needs of approximately 160,000 households. The specific commissioning date has not been disclosed.
EDF and KOWEPO are also positioning themselves in other tenders in the emirate. The consortium is one of three entities still in the running for the Khazna photovoltaic solar project, also with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, located in Abu Dhabi.
