Abu dhabi: Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has received four competitive proposals for the development of the Al Nouf 1 Independent Power Producer (IPP) project.
According to Emirates News Agency, the proposals were submitted by a consortium consisting of Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company, Sembcorp Industries, and EDF Power Solutions; another consortium comprising ENGIE, Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND), and Korea Western Power Company (KOWEPO); a consortium consisting of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Etihad Water and Electricity; and Sumitomo Corporation.
Al Nouf 1 is set to be the largest single-site carbon-capture-ready Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant in the UAE, with a generation capacity of up to 3.3 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. The project will utilise advanced turbines that are recognised for their efficiency.
The plant will be located within the newly established Al Nouf Complex, a strategically designated coastal site intended to become a major hub for power and water production in Abu Dhabi. The site was selected to support efficient power generation and low-carbon reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technologies.
Designed for long-term scalability, the complex has ample infrastructure capacity to support multiple utility-scale energy projects in the future. This highlights EWEC’s commitment to developing energy clusters that deliver efficiencies and environmental sustainability.
Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, stated that Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for energy infrastructure investment. The interest from international developers in the Al Nouf 1 project underscores the commercial and strategic appeal of EWEC’s project pipeline and Abu Dhabi’s IPP programme.
The integration of the UAE’s largest carbon-capture-ready CCGT plant will provide necessary dispatchable capacity to manage intermittency and enhance grid stability, ensuring the power demands are met while continuing on the decarbonisation path. The proposals from global developers are a testament to EWEC’s competitive procurement framework and vision for a sustainable utilities sector.
Flexible and high-efficiency gas-fired plants like Al Nouf 1 are crucial for ensuring supply security while the energy sector transitions to a renewable and clean-focused industry. By integrating AI and advanced digital twin technologies, the plant will optimise lifecycle performance, combining energy efficiency and operational agility for system resilience.
As part of Abu Dhabi’s IPP programme, the project is expected to contribute to Emiratisation targets by including UAE Nationals in key roles, promoting national workforce development goals.
The Al Nouf 1 project aligns with EWEC’s strategy to transform the nation’s energy infrastructure, foster economic development, create high-skilled jobs, and contribute to achieving the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
EWEC is now set to proceed with a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation process of the submitted proposals, with commercial operations expected to begin in Q3 2029.