China’s Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation No. 3 (SEPCO3), a unit of Power Construction Corporation of China, together with LONGi, have signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Longi for the 1.5-gigawatt Khazna Solar Photovoltaic project in Abu Dhabi.
The EPC deal formalises SEPCO3 and LONGi’s role in delivering the project for ENGIE, which was awarded the development mandate by Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) in October.
The project, one of the largest solar schemes in the UAE to date, will use a centralised photovoltaic design with single-axis tracking systems, prefabricated substations, central inverters and automated panel cleaning technology. Nearly three million solar modules will be installed.
Once operational, Khazna Solar PV is expected to supply enough power for about 160,000 homes across the UAE and cut more than 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, according to EWEC.
The project forms part of Abu Dhabi’s plan to lift solar capacity to 18GW by 2035 and meet 60% of its electricity demand from clean and renewable sources under the Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target.
It also supports the emirate’s efforts to diversify its power grid and meet rising industrial and residential electricity demand.
