Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has announced that it has obtained approval to allocate four new sites covering an area of approximately 75 sq km of land to be turned into world-leading solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy developments.

Ewec is a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system despatch services of water and electricity across the UAE.

Representing a major milestone in the acceleration of renewable energy deployment in the UAE, the landmark projects are set to deliver 4.5 gigawatts (GW) (AC) of additional solar PV capacity and up to 140 MW of new wind capacity to Abu Dhabi.

Spanning four sites within Abu Dhabi, the land will feature three new solar PV plants located in Al Faya, Al Khazna, and Al Zarraf, and one new wind farm in Sila.

According to Ewec, the solar PV projects will support its delivery of 10GW of installed solar PV capacity by 2030 and 18GW by 2035, thus contributing to collective efforts to achieve the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s (DoE) Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for electricity production in Abu Dhabi and UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

Ahmed Al Rumaithi, the Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: "Securing land for Ewec to accelerate the development of new world-leading renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi is not just a step forward in our energy journey, but it also aligns with the DoE’s regulatory and policy framework, which is pivotal for achieving a sustainable economic future."

Dr Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), said: "We are delighted to be closely collaborating with EWEC and key partners in securing land for new renewable energy projects that will play a crucial role in supporting the UAE’s energy transition and environmental sustainability objectives."

Ewec CEO Othman Al Ali said this was a significant milestone in its strategic decarbonisation of the UAE’s energy sector.

"This land will facilitate the accelerated commissioning and development of world-leading renewable projects as we actively contribute to the realisation of the country’s sustainability objectives by supplying 60 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s power demand from renewable and clean energy sources," he stated.