EWEC, Tadweer invite bids for waste-to-energy project in Abu Dhabi

UAE utility Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) and waste management authority Tadweer have issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) to companies interested in the development of a waste-to-energy project in Abu Dhabi.

A total of 109 companies and consortia have already expressed interest in the project which will convert municipal solid waste into electricity, EWEC said on Wednesday.

The pre-qualified companies are expected to submit their proposals by the end of 2022.

The waste-to-energy plant will be built near the Al Dhafra landfill with a capacity to process 900,000 tonnes of waste per year. It is expected to generate enough electricity to power up to 52,500 households and reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by up to 1.1 million tonnes per year.

The selected developer will be responsible for the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the waste-to-energy plant and will own up to 40% of it. The majority stake of 60% will be held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government.

Commenting on the project, EWEC's chief executive Othman Al Ali said: "Finding innovative solutions to divert almost a million tonnes of waste per year from landfills is vital to reducing the impact of waste on the environment. This Waste-to-Energy facility will reduce carbon emissions that result from traditional waste management, while also supporting the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.”

The UAE's first commercial-scale waste-to-energy plant went into operation in Sharjah in May. It generates 30 MW of energy and enables the city to raise its waste diversion rate to 100%.

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