Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) said it has received 4 proposals from international firms for the 3.5GW Al Nouf 1 Independent Power Producer (IPP) project.

EWEC said the bids represent a key milestone in the procurement of the UAE’s largest single-site carbon-capture-ready CCGT power plant. The project will be located within the newly established Al Nouf Complex, a coastal site designated to become a major hub for power and water production in Abu Dhabi.

Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC said the level of participation reflects strong international interest in Abu Dhabi’s power sector and its IPP programme, and the commercial appeal of EWEC’s project pipeline.

EWEC said it is moving forward with the technical and commercial evaluation process of the received proposals. The bids were submitted by: a consortium of Saudi Arabia’s Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company, Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries and France’s EDF Power Solutions; a consortium of France’s Engie, South Korea’s Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND) and Korea Western Power Company (KOWEPO); a consortium of South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the UAE’s Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.

The financial close and project award timelines weren’t disclosed but the statement explained that the IPP is expected to achieve commercial operations in Q3 2029. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in August 2025.

Alshamsi added, “As we deploy unprecedented volumes of renewable energy, integrating the UAE’s largest carbon-capture-ready CCGT plant will provide the essential dispatchable capacity needed to manage intermittency and strengthen grid stability.”

EWEC said that it is working towards raising Abu Dhabi’s solar power capacity to 18 GW and wind power capacity to 2.6 GW by 2035.