The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has awarded the Taweelah C Independent Power Producer (IPP) project to a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), alongside Saudi-based Aljomaih Energy and Water Company and Singaporean Sembcorp Industries. The award marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s efforts to maintain grid reliability while accelerating renewable energy deployment.
The project will deliver a 2.6 GW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant designed to support future carbon capture technologies. Taweelah C Power Project will provide flexible generation capacity needed to balance increasing volumes of solar and other renewable energy sources across the emirate’s electricity network.
Taweelah C Power Project Overview
Located within the Al Taweelah power complex in Abu Dhabi, the new plant will become one of the region’s largest gas-fired power stations. The project has been developed under Abu Dhabi’s long-established IPP framework, which uses private sector investment and expertise to deliver energy infrastructure.
EWEC has also signed a long-term power purchase agreement with the consortium extending through 2050. Under the arrangement, EWEC will serve as the sole purchaser of electricity generated by the facility.
Taweelah C Power Project will improve system flexibility and grid stability while allowing Abu Dhabi to continue expanding renewable energy generation capacity without compromising energy security.
Ownership Structure and Project Financing
Under the agreed structure, TAQA will hold a 60% ownership stake in the project company. The consortium of Aljomaih Energy and Water Company and Sembcorp Industries will collectively own the remaining 40%.
TAQA will also retain a 40% share in the operations and maintenance company, while the international consortium will hold the remaining 60%. Furthermore, the consortium will be responsible for financing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the power station.
Although financial details have not been disclosed yet, estimates place Taweelah C Power Project value at approximately US$2 billion.
Taweelah C Independent Power Producer (IPP) Project Fact Sheet
Location: Al Taweelah Power and Desalination Complex
Capacity: 2.6 GW
Technology: Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT)
Turbine Supplier: Siemens Energy
Lead Developer: TAQA
Project Partners: Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, Sembcorp Industries
Offtaker: Emirates Water and Electricity Company
PPA Duration: Through 2050
Current Stage: Contract awarded and PPA signed
Commercial Operation: Expected by 2029
Taweelah C Power Project and UAE’s Energy Prospects
Carbon-capture-ready Taweelah C forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider strategy to modernize its generation fleet. As the UAE advances toward its Net Zero 2050 ambitions, high-efficiency gas-fired plants remain an important transitional technology, providing dispatchable power during periods when renewable generation fluctuates.
The project is expected to complement EWEC’s plans to significantly increase solar capacity over the coming decade. This is while ensuring energy reliability during peak demand periods. By combining operational flexibility with future carbon-capture readiness, Taweelah C Power Project is intended to serve as a bridge between conventional generation and a lower-carbon energy system.
Project Outlook
Commercial operation is expected in the latter part of the decade. The facility will then provide flexible generation capacity to Abu Dhabi’s electricity system. The project is also likely to become one of the most significant thermal power developments in the Gulf region over the next several years. This will be alongside others that are steadily taking shape in the Middle East, including the 850 MW Hadera Power Plant Expansion Project in Israel.
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