Engie and Masdar have won the bidding to develop the 1.5-gigawatt Khazna Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project in Abu Dhabi.

The project was put out to tender by Emirates Water and Electricity Company ( Ewec ). Khazna Solar PV is part of Ewec’s strategic plans to substantially increase solar power capacity in the United Arab Emirates. Upon its completion, the project will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE while avoiding more than 2.4 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

Ewec awarded the Khazna Solar PV contract after a comprehensive procurement process. Under a power purchase agreement, Ewec will pay only for the net electrical energy supplied by the plant. Engie and Masdar will design, finance, build, and operate the plant, which will be located near the Al Khazna area of Abu Dhabi.

The plant will feature nearly three million solar panels that will follow the sun’s path throughout the day, maximizing solar energy capture and output.

Khazna Solar PV will significantly contribute to Ewec’s strategic plans to increase Abu Dhabi’s solar power generation capacity to 18GW by 2035 and to meet 60% of the emirate’s total power demand from renewable and clean energy sources by 2035. This is in line with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for electricity production in Abu Dhabi.

“Engie is proud to support the UAE’s energy transition and deepen our longstanding partnership with the country through the Khazna Solar PV project, which will become our largest photovoltaic asset globally,” says Paulo Almirante, Engie senior vice president in charge of renewable and flexible power.

“This landmark project reflects both our shared ambition for decarbonization and the power of strategic public-private collaboration to accelerate large-scale renewable deployment.”

The project is expected to reach financial close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.