The planned public opening of commercial tariffs for the planned 1.5GW Al-Dhafra photovoltaic (PV) solar project has been postponed due to the precautions being undertaken for the corona virus covid-19.
Energy & Utilities had previously reported that the client, Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) was preparing to open proposals during a public read-out on 18 March. However, bidders have been notified that this has been postponed due to the requirement to avoid public gatherings as a result of corona virus, according to sources close to the project.
Bidders had submitted revised proposals on 1 March, after the five groups had submitted original proposals on 21 November.
According to sources close to the project, the revised proposals included significant additional information and clarifications for the planned Al-Dhafra IPP, the emirate’s second major photovoltaic (PV) solar project. The five bidders submitted revised proposals on 1 March.
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.
