EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a key player in the integrated planning, procurement, supply, and system dispatch of water and electricity across the UAE, has confirmed the award of its 1.5-gigawatt (GW) (AC) Khazna Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project. ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy, and Masdar, the UAE-based clean energy pioneer, will jointly develop the utility-scale solar plant, with Masdar serving as the local shareholder. The project’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has now been formalized between EWEC and the two companies.
The Khazna Solar PV initiative is a cornerstone of EWEC’s ambitious plan to expand solar capacity across Abu Dhabi and the UAE. When it starts running, the plant should produce enough electricity to supply about 160,000 homes and cut over 2.4 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions in Abu Dhabi each year. The facility will host nearly three million solar panels designed to track the sun throughout the day, maximising energy capture. This project also aligns with EWEC’s target of increasing Abu Dhabi’s solar generation capacity to 18GW by 2035 and meeting 60 percent of the emirate’s electricity demand from renewable and clean energy sources, in line with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, commented: “Masdar is proud to collaborate with EWEC and ENGIE on this gigawatt-scale project, which will support the UAE’s clean energy journey. The Khazna Solar PV project continues our long-standing partnership with EWEC, changing how the UAE produces and consumes energy through pioneering, best-in-class solutions. As a global clean energy leader and the UAE’s renewables champion, Masdar is proud to be playing a key role in accelerating the energy system transformation, and this iconic solar project will support that transformation while creating opportunities for sustainable socioeconomic growth.”
EWEC selected the Khazna Solar PV consortium following a comprehensive procurement process. The PPA stipulates that EWEC will pay solely for the net electricity generated. The plant, located near Abu Dhabi’s Al Khazna area, will be designed, financed, built, and operated by ENGIE and Masdar. The plant will use digital tools like IoT sensors, cloud monitoring, big data analytics, and robotic cleaning systems, to keep the panels working efficiently and reduce maintenance.
Renewable energy remains at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s energy transition. EWEC’s power mix now includes utility-scale solar, wind, nuclear, and low-carbon seawater desalination projects. By 2030, the company aims to source over 50 per cent of the emirate’s electricity from renewable and clean energy, reducing the average carbon intensity of power generation from 330 kilograms per megawatt hour (kg/MWh) in 2019 to 150 kg/MWh. The Khazna Solar PV project is expected to reach financial close by the end of Q4 2025.