Korea Western Power (KWP) has secured a landmark solar power project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the first time a South Korean company has won such a large-scale solar power project in the country. This project represents the largest single solar power project ever won by a Korean company, with KWP investing over 1 trillion won to construct a massive 1,500 MW solar power plant.
The project, commissioned by the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), saw KWP and the EDF-R consortium being selected as the preferred bidders, outpacing other global energy company consortia. The KWP board completed the investment approval for this project last month.
Situated about 70 km east of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, this mega renewable energy construction project involves the development of a 1500 MW solar power plant with an investment exceeding 1 trillion won. Both the capacity and the project cost are the largest for a single solar power project undertaken by a Korean company.
Covering an area of 20 million square meters, equivalent to 2850 soccer fields or the size of the Bundang district, the power plant is expected to produce an average annual output of approximately 4500 GWh, equal to the annual domestic electricity consumption of Incheon Metropolitan City last year.
Construction is set to begin in June, with completion expected by July 2026. Once operational, it will become the world’s seventh-largest solar power plant. EWEC guarantees the purchase of electricity produced for the next 30 years, with projected cumulative sales reaching approximately 3 trillion won.
Park Hyung-duk, president of Korea Western Power, stated, “Winning the Azban solar project in the UAE is a testament to Korea Western Power being recognized as a global energy company. We plan to expand our footprint in renewable energy sources such as solar power and green hydrogen in the Middle East, contributing to the energy transition and the spread of carbon-neutral energy.”