EWEC and Partners to Reconfigure S1 Plant to Accelerate Clean Energy Integration

In a major step toward the UAE’s clean energy goals, Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has signed a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Shuweihat 1 (S1) power project.

The move marks a strategic effort to enhance grid flexibility and reliability as the country accelerates the integration of renewable energy sources. The S1 plant, located in the Al Dhafra region about 250 kilometers from Abu Dhabi City, will be reconfigured from a cogeneration facility,  producing both electricity and desalinated water, into a standalone open-cycle gas-fired power plant.

The revamped plant will deliver up to 1.1 GW of flexible electricity supply, playing a crucial role in balancing the grid amid a rising share of solar and wind energy. Commercial operations are expected to commence in 2027.

Originally commissioned in 2005 under a 20-year agreement set to conclude this year, S1 is owned by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), which holds a 60 percent stake, while France’s ENGIE and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation each own 20 percent. The trio will continue to operate and maintain the facility, with TAQA retaining a 30 percent stake in the O&M company and ENGIE and Sumitomo each holding 35 percent. Under the new PPA, the water desalination component. currently powered by natural gas, will be decommissioned to decouple power and water generation, a shift that aligns with EWEC’s strategy for a more sustainable and efficient energy future.

Mohamed Al Marzooqi, EWEC’s Chief Asset Development  and Management Officer, emphasised that the S1 extension reflects the company’s commitment to maximizing the efficient use of existing infrastructure to deliver reliable and flexible power while cutting emissions. He noted that using natural gas as a transitional fuel will accelerate the deployment of renewable projects such as solar and wind. Andreas Collor, Chief Operations Officer of TAQA’s Generation business, echoed the importance of flexible gas power in supporting the grid as Abu Dhabi ramps up renewable capacity. ENGIE’s GCC Managing Director, Niko Cornelis, said the project aligns with the group’s belief in the role of low-carbon gas assets in ensuring energy security amid the renewable transition. Jun Minase, Head of Sumitomo’s Overseas Energy Solution Strategic Business Unit, expressed deep appreciation for EWEC’s continued support and reiterated the company’s commitment to contributing to the UAE’s net-zero goals.

The reconfiguration of S1 reinforces EWEC’s wider mission to diversify Abu Dhabi’s energy mix. By 2030, the company aims to supply more than 50 percent of the emirate’s electricity from clean and renewable sources. The S1 project is a textbook example of how existing infrastructure can be adapted to meet modern energy challenges, ensuring grid stability, reducing emissions, and enabling a smoother, faster energy transition.