EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system despatch services of water and electricity across the UAE, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of Al Nouf Independent Power Producer (IPP) project.

Al Nouf will be the largest single-site carbon-capture-ready combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant in the UAE.  It will be located within the newly established Al Nouf Complex. The state-of-the-art plant is designed to deliver world-class efficiency, operational flexibility, and lower emissions, supporting the UAE’s long-term decarbonisation agenda, according to EWEC.

The Al Nouf Complex will play a pivotal role in the UAE’s energy and water security, with the site carefully selected for its strategic coastal location and ability to accommodate both seawater-cooled power generation and reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technologies.

Designed with long-term scalability in mind, the complex features ample space and infrastructure capacity to support multiple utility-scale energy and desalination projects in the future. This integrated planning approach underscores EWEC’s commitment to developing energy clusters that deliver synergies in performance, efficiency, and environmental sustainability, it said.

Al Nouf will closely follow the model of Abu Dhabi’s successful IPP programme, where developers enter into a long-term agreement with EWEC as the sole procurer. It will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of the plant, with the successful developer or developer consortium owning up to 40 per cent of the entity. The remaining equity will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi Government.

Expected to begin commercial operations in Q3 2029, Al Nouf’s efficient natural gas turbine technology will generate up to 3.3 GW of electricity. The RFP shared with bidders outlines comprehensive requirements and technical parameters, encouraging the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) where relevant to improve plant performance, operational efficiency, and predictive maintenance. The project is also expected to leverage state-of-the-art technologies, including digital twinning and advanced monitoring systems, to optimise lifecycle performance and system resilience. Responses to the RFP are expected in Q4 2025.