TAQA and EWEC sign PPA for 1GW as part of $9.8bn giga-scale project
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has signed a 24-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) to build, own, and operate the 1-gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) project.
TAQA, with 100 per cent ownership, will lead the OCGT project and undertake the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant. TAQA Transmission, part of TAQA Group, will develop an advanced power grid infrastructure to integrate the additional generation capacity to new sources of energy demand, enabling access to reliable power with a low carbon footprint.
TAQA leads energy shift
The new 1GW capacity adds to Masdar's recently announced world-first 'round-the-clock' giga-scale project, which comprises 5.2GW of solar PV and 19GWh of battery storage to dispatch 1GW of renewable energy 24/7. It will be the world's largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS).
The collaboration between EWEC, TAQA, and Masdar, will drive investment of around AED36 billion ($9.8 billion) in energy supply infrastructure in Abu Dhabi. Around 75 per cent of the investment will be in renewable and conventional power generation. The remaining 25 per cent will be invested in grid infrastructure, which will be added to the regulated asset base and will receive the regulated return.
The new project aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 initiative.
TAQA is one of the largest listed integrated utility companies in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while EWEC is a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system despatch services of water and electricity across the UAE.
Jasim Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director of TAQA and Vice Chairman of Masdar, commented: 'Providing reliable low-carbon power plays an important role in enabling the global energy transition. Through our expertise in power generation and transmission, and as the largest shareholder in Masdar, TAQA plays a central role in advancing clean energy solutions in the UAE, and we remain committed to ensuring reliable, low-carbon power at all times.'
EWEC supplies more than 55 per cent of the emirate's power demand through renewable and clean energy sources. Additionally, more than 92 per cent of water production will be supplied through state-of-the-art reverse osmosis technology, reducing water production emissions from 16 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) in 2021 to 1 kg/m³ by 2031.
Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, added: 'EWEC is pleased to partner with TAQA on transformative initiatives that will not only power the UAE's AI ambitions but also accelerate the nation's energy transition.
'By creating a future-ready energy framework that integrates next-generation renewable energy technologies and advanced transmission solutions, this collaboration sets a new global benchmark for sustainable energy systems that balances sustainability with operational excellence.
'As the UAE transitions into an AI-powered future, we are creating the foundation for a future where advanced technologies can flourish while meeting the country's forward-thinking environmental and economic goals.'
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