EWEC Issues Request for Proposals for 400-MW Battery Energy Storage System

Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified developers and developer consortiums for the development of a 400-megawatt (MW) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) power project in Abu Dhabi. The project will provide up to 800 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage capacity.

The company announced on Thursday that responses to the RFP are expected by the fourth quarter of 2024. The issuance of the RFP follows the qualification process from the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage conducted in April 2024, where 93 companies and consortiums submitted EOIs. Of these, 27 companies and consortiums advanced to the RFP stage after submitting Statements of Qualification.

EWEC’s initiative aims to enhance the flexibility and stability of Abu Dhabi’s energy network. The deployment of BESS technology will facilitate effective management of peak demand and support the integration of increasing amounts of renewable energy into the grid. Additionally, the BESS technology will provide essential ancillary services such as frequency response and voltage regulation, reinforcing the security of supply.

The BESS project is a critical component of EWEC’s strategy to increase its solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity to 7.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. This expansion is projected to significantly reduce the carbon dioxide intensity of EWEC’s power supply from 330 kilograms per megawatt hour (kg/MWh) in 2019 to an estimated 190 kg/MWh by 2030.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, remarked, “As we commission the development of the UAE’s next-generation energy infrastructure, the 400MW 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 enable us to operate and manage peak demand more efficiently.”

Al Ali further stated, “Through this strategic project, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s position as leaders in the global energy transition and accelerating the nation’s net-zero goals. We look forward to working with best-in-class partners to bring this vision to fruition, further advancing the energy sector into a more sustainable future.”