Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has announced the signing of a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Shuweihat 1 (S1) facility, marking a significant step in the company’s long-term strategy to decouple power and water generation while accelerating the UAE’s energy transition.
The S1 facility, located in Al Dhafra, approximately 250 kilometres from Abu Dhabi City, will undergo a major reconfiguration, transitioning from a combined power and water cogeneration plant to a dedicated natural gas-fired open-cycle power plant. The reconfigured facility will provide up to 1.1 gigawatts of flexible reserve power supply starting in 2027, supporting the integration of renewable and clean energy sources into the national grid.
“In support of EWEC’s decoupling of power and water supply, the water desalination, fuelled by natural gas, will be decommissioned,” the company confirmed. This change aligns with EWEC’s wider initiative to shift away from thermal desalination toward more sustainable and efficient alternatives.
The move is part of EWEC’s broader plan to decarbonise water production by deploying Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology at scale. By 2031, the company aims for 92 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s water production, which is equivalent to more than 3.5 million cubic metres per day, to come from low-carbon-intensive RO plants. Compared to traditional thermal desalination, RO technology can reduce emissions by over 85 per cent.
Compared to traditional thermal desalination, RO technology can reduce emissions by over 85 per cent
EWEC’s existing and upcoming RO desalination infrastructure includes the world’s largest RO plant, Taweelah RO, already operating at full capacity with 909,200 m³/day, and forthcoming projects such as Shuweihat 4 RO, Mirfa 2 RO, and Saadiyat Island RO, which will collectively add up to 1,143,000 m³/day. An additional 800,000 m³/day of RO capacity is recommended by EWEC’s latest planning report for development by 2031.
The S1 facility, operational since 2005 under a 20-year agreement, is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) with a 60 per cent stake, and ENGIE and Sumitomo Corporation, each holding 20 per cent. The three companies will continue to manage the plant’s operations and maintenance under the new agreement, which extends its operations for another 15 years.
Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Chief Asset Development & Management Officer at EWEC, said: “The S1 extension project highlights our collaboration with international partners to enable continued investment in utility-scale assets that support EWEC’s pivotal role in driving the UAE’s energy transition to a more sustainable future... Utilising natural gas as a flexible transition fuel enables the accelerated integration of renewable and clean energy projects.”
TAQA, ENGIE, and Sumitomo echoed the strategic importance of flexible gas power generation during the transition, citing its role in maintaining grid stability as renewable penetration increases.
EWEC is targeting over 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s electricity to come from renewable and clean energy sources by 2030. The decoupling of water and power production is central to achieving this, allowing for independent optimisation of both sectors and setting a precedent for sustainable water management globally.
