EWEC invites developers to submit EOIs for Abu Dhabi Islands RO IWP
The project consists of two standalone greenfield RO seawater desalination plants to be located on Saadiyat Island and Hudayriat Island
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) has invited developers and developer consortiums to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of the Abu Dhabi Islands Reverse Osmosis (RO) Independent Water Project (IWP).
The project comprises two standalone greenfield RO seawater desalination plants to be located on Saadiyat Island and Hudayriat Island. Both plants will desalinate seawater using low-carbon intensive RO technologies to provide a combined total of approximately 100m imperial gallons per day (MIGD), equivalent to 455,000m3/day. Together, the plants under the Abu Dhabi Islands RO IWP project will meet the water demand for up to 180,000 households in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the organisation noted.
The project will become EWEC’s seventh and eighth RO desalination plants once operational, advancing its strategic initiative to decouple power and water generation capacity, and supporting the decarbonisation of water and electricity production.
In February 2021, EWEC invited developers/developer-consortiums to submit EoIs for the Mirfa 2 (M2) independent water project (IWP) in Abu Dhabi.
Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: “Reverse Osmosis is a vital low-carbon intensive seawater desalination technology that enables EWEC to strategically change its water and power generation portfolio, and ultimately contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy sector. The Abu Dhabi Islands RO IWP project is the fourth RO project initiated by EWEC in the last four years, and once commercially operational, it will become the seventh and eighth RO plants in EWEC’s portfolio. EWEC is proud to be leading the energy sector in making rapid and tangible changes to the water and energy production portfolio with a focus on sustainability, in support of UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.”
He added, “We look forward to receiving Expression of Interest submissions from developers and developer consortiums to partner with us in our contributions to achieve Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s sustainability goals.”
The project will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of two standalone greenfield RO seawater desalination plants. The successful developer or developer consortium will own up to 40% of a special purpose vehicle (SPV), while the remaining equity will be primarily held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government, EWEC noted.
In May 2022, EWEC called for EoIs for the 1,500MW Al Ajban Solar PV project.
The SPV will enter into a long-term water purchase agreement (“WPA”) with EWEC, the single buyer of power and water capacity and output in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, EWEC added.
The statement also pointed out that EWEC invited developers/developer consortiums to submit their EoIs by the deadline of 30 September 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Gulf Standard Time (GST) for the first stage of the tender process. Interested parties are requested to submit their EoI via electronic copy to: ewec.adislandsro@ewec.ae
Following the review of the EoIs, EWEC will issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to proceed to the next stage. The RFQ will provide additional details regarding the project, pre-qualification criteria and the bidding process.
In July 2022, EWEC and Tadweer issued a RFP for the Abu Dhabi Waste-to-Energy IPP.
