Companies from US, Europe, India, China and Japan have expressed interest in bidding, and eventually developing, 350 MW solar power projects in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 34 companies or consortiums have qualified as bidders for the 350 MW solar PV project planned by the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA). Eight of these entities have qualified as main developers of the projects while others, if selected, will act as ‘managing members’ and technical advisors.
Entities qualified as main developers are mostly from the developed markets like the US and Europe. These include First Solar, EDF, Enel, Engie, RWE/Belectric, Solar Reserve and Total/Sunpower. A consortium led by South Korean utility KEPCO has also qualified for the next stage of bidding.
Geographical diversity increases substantially as one looks into the category of technical advisors (category B) and managing members (category C). Several Indian and Chinese companies have qualified as technical advisors for the next round of biddings. These include Jinko Solar, China State Construction Engineering Corp., Adani Enterprises, Acme Solar, Hindustan Clean Energy, and ReNew Power Ventures.
Qualified entities in the category of possible managing members include AWCA Power, Marubeni, Mitsui, and Masdar.
Selected entities in categories B and C are now expected to enter talks with entities to be selected as main developers. The procedure is expected to be the same as that for the 200 MW solar power auction in Dubai solar power park. ACWA Power partnered with First Solar and TSK to bid the lowest-ever solar PV tariff of US¢5.84/kWh.
Abu Dhabi already hosts one of the largest solar concentrated power projects in Asia – Shams 1.
