ADP (Abu Dhabi Power) declared having achieved the lowest tariff in the world for solar energy in the Al Dhafra plant project, which will be built in the United Arab Emirates. The first placed, from a group of five bidders, presented the price of US$0,0135/kWh.
The photovoltaic plant will have an installed capacity of 2 GW, which corresponds, for example, to more than 4.500 football fields. According to the company, when it comes into operation, Abu Dhabi's solar generation will rise to 3,2 GW. It adds to another project in the UAE, the 1,2 GW Noor Abu Dhabi plant, which opened last year.
“The cost competitiveness of the proposals received is truly remarkable, positioning Abu Dhabi as one of the world's most attractive markets for solar energy development and reinforcing the economic benefits now achievable through renewable technologies,” said Othman Al Ali, Executive Director from EWEC (Emirates Water and Electric Company).
Al Dhafra's tender was launched in February last year, attracting interest from almost 50 companies, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 24. From that list, only five submitted bids last November. The identity of the winner was not revealed.
The top bid surpassed the previous industry record, a tariff of $0,0164/kWh submitted in 2019 by a bidder in a solar auction in Portugal. EWEC expects to sign a purchase agreement and begin receiving power from the plant in the second quarter of 2022.
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