The authority would select a developer for the proposed project by mid 2016, media sources reported.
The selected developer will own a 40% stake in the project and ADWEA will hold the remaining 60% interest.
The PV plant, which will be ADWEA’s first major solar project, is part of its plan to generate 7% of its total power from renewable energy sources by 2020.
Masdar, a green energy company in Abu Dhabi, currently has 110MW of solar power capacity in the emirate..
UAE energy minister Suhail Al Mazroui recently announced that investments in the country’s nuclear, solar and other energy projects are estimated to increase to $35bn by 2021.
The country is committed to reduce its dependency on natural gas.
ADWEA, a government entity, supplies electricity and potable water to a population of more than 2 million , over an area of 67,340km2.
Abu Dhabi must increase power generation capacity in a bid to cater to increasing power demand that is anticipated to rise to 21,000MW by 2020, according to Arab News.
Image: The PV plant will be ADWEA’s first major solar project. Photo: courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
