Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (“TAQA”), UAE, together with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC),UAE, announced the development and implementation of new energy infrastructure projects to directly advance the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, and UAE Net Zero by 2050 initiative.

The transformative collaboration includes TAQA signing a 24-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with EWEC to build, own, and operate the 1-gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) project in the UAE.

With 100 per cent ownership, TAQA is leading the OCGT project and will undertake the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant.

In addition, TAQA Transmission, part of TAQA Group, will develop 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.

The projects will support the recently announced EWEC and Masdar world-first project that will enable renewable energy to be dispatched 24 hours a day seven days a week, reaffirming the UAE’s position as a global pioneer in renewable energy deployment and low-carbon infrastructure. Delivering up to 1GW of baseload power every day generated from renewable energy, it will be the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the world.

The collaboration between EWEC, TAQA, and Masdar, will drive investment of around AED 36 billion in energy supply infrastructure in Abu Dhabi with around 75 per cent of that to be invested 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.

EWEC has achieved a transformative milestone in Abu Dhabi’s energy sector, now supplying 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. These advancements reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in sustainable utility operations.