Kowepco + EDF UAE snag another UAE solar project: Korea Western Power (Kowepco) and France’s EDF Renewables signed a joint development agreement on Friday to develop the 1.5 GW Al-Khazna solar project in the UAE, The Korean Economic Daily reported. The project — located in Abu Dhabi’s Al-Khazna bordering Al Ain — will be completed by 2027. Kowepco is also expected to supply important equipment to domestic companies. The investment ticket was not disclosed.

About the solar farm: The Khazna Solar Photovoltaic Power Project is a greenfield solar power project with a generation capacity of 1.5 GW expected to be similar in scale and production capacity to Al Dhafra Solar PV and Al Ajban Solar PV. Once fully operational, the project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by over 2.4 mn tons per year — equivalent to removing about 470k cars from the road.

Background: Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) invited developers to submit expressions of interest for the development of the Khazna solar farm last year. The selected developer will be tasked with constructing, financing, operating, maintaining, and owning the solar plant, with Ewec being the sole offtaker of solar power generated under a long-term 30-year PPA.

Not the pair’s first UAE venture: Kowepco and EDF were selected by Ewec last month to develop the 1.5 GW Al Ajban solar IPP project for an estimated investment ticket of USD 748 mn. The plant will break ground in June and is set for completion in 2026. The partners are also currently developing Oman’s 500 MW Manah solar project which will provide clean energy for approximately 50k homes while offsetting 780k tons of CO2 annually.

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