The competitive tender process has commenced in Abu Dhabi for the development of a greenfield waste-to-energy (WtE) independent power project (IPP), one of the largest in the region.

The tender is being floated by  Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, and Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer), the authority for waste management activities in Abu Dhabi.

For the first stage of the tender process, EWEC and Tadweer invite developers to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by February 11, 2021.

The proposed WtE plant will be developed through Abu Dhabi’s successful IPP model, with long-term project agreements encompassing both power purchase and waste supply with EWEC and Tadweer.

The WtE plant, to be located near the existing Al Dhafra landfill in Abu Dhabi, will have an expected processing capacity between 600,000 and 900,000 tonnes of waste per year, and will generate enough electricity to power up to 22,500 UAE households, making it one of the largest WtE facilities in the region. In addition, the WtE plant is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5 million tonnes per year (equivalent to the removal of more than 300,000 cars from the road).

The project will involve the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the WtE plant,

Following review of the EOIs by EWEC and Tadweer, the utility firm will issue the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to proceed to the next stage.