Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company– Masdar and ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy solutions, have reached financial close for the 1.5 GW Khazna Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project.
Financing facilities
have been secured with seven leading regional and international banks,
including Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment
Bank, KfW IPEX, BNP Paribas, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Emirates Development Bank.
Khazna Solar PV was
awarded to Masdar and ENGIE in October 2025. Following the award, the project
company owned by ENGIE and Masdar signed a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement
(PPA) with EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a leading company in
the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system despatch services of
water and electricity across the UAE.
The project, scheduled
to start commercial operation in 2028, will generate enough electricity to
power approximately 160,000 homes, while avoiding around 2.4 million tonnes of
carbon emissions per year, supporting the UAE’s energy transformation and contributing
to national decarbonisation goals.
Mohamed Al Ramahi,
Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Today’s announcement marks a major
milestone for the development of this project, which will play a significant
role in the UAE’s energy transformation.
The Khazna Solar PV
project adds to Masdar’s fast-growing portfolio in the UAE and strengthens our
partnerships with EWEC and ENGIE. We look forward to working closely with them
to bring this project to full energisation and providing reliable, clean electricity
to power the UAE’s sustainable socioeconomic progress.”
Catherine MacGregor,
CEO, ENGIE, said, “ENGIE continues to execute its commitment to delivering
sustainable infrastructure for clean, reliable energy solutions at scale. This
financial close represents a landmark in the development of a mission-critical asset
to the UAE’s path towards net zero by 2050 and further strengthens ENGIE’s
decades long partnership supporting the country’s renewable energy rollout.
In collaboration with
EWEC and Masdar, the Khazna Solar PV will operate as a flagship project to both
the UAE’s national energy security and its long-term decarbonisation ambitions,
and we are proud to reach this milestone as we look ahead to full commercial
operations in the coming years.”
Ahmed Alshamsi, Chief
Executive Officer of EWEC, said, “The financial close of Khazna Solar PV is a
decisive step in EWEC’s strategic plan to scale world-class renewable capacity
and transform the UAE’s energy landscape. As our fourth world-leading
utility-scale solar project, Khazna Solar PV is a key asset that accelerates
our progress towards meeting 60 percent of total power demand from renewable
and clean energy sources by 2035.
By pioneering
large-scale renewable projects, EWEC is taking tangible actions to ensure a
secure and sustainable energy supply for the nation while supporting the UAE
Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. We look forward to working with Masdar
and ENGIE through delivery and operations to bring the project online and
accelerate a more sustainable water and energy future for the nation.”
Located between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, the Khazna Solar PV project, which is 60 per cent owned by Masdar with ENGIE holding 40 per cent, will operate as a flagship development contributing to the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target for 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi, which aims to meet 60 per cent of total power demand from renewable and clean energy sources within the next decade. -TradeArabia News Service