Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has announced the signing of a new PPA for the Shuweihat 1 (S1) power project in the United Arab Emirates. Located in the Al Dhafra region, approximately 250 km from Abu Dhabi City, the S1 facility is a cogeneration plant producing both power and desalinated water planned to be reconverted to operate as a natural gas-fired open-cycle power plant with a 1.1 GW capacity of flexible reserve power for a 15-year term starting from 2027. The existing water desalination unit will be decommissioned once the transition is complete to reduce carbon emissions and enhance system flexibility. After the transition, the S1’s will be owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) with a 30% stake, and Engie (35%) and Sumitomo (35%).
The reconversion falls under EWEC’s strategic initiative to decouple water desalination from electricity generation, as part of the country’s broader energy reform. The UAE’s net-zero strategy and reinforces the company’s goal of generating over 50% of the country’s electricity from renewable and clean energy sources by 2030.
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