Marubeni-Jinko submit world-record low bid for 350MW Sweihan solar project in Abu Dhabi

Adwea’s procurement arm received six bids for the upcoming PV plant in Sweihan, with an Asian consortium consisting of Japan’s Marubeni and Jinko Solar of China coming in at 2.42 US cents per kilowatt hour.

An Asian consortium consisting of Jinko­Solar of China and Marubeni of Japan submitted 2.42 US cents per kilowatt hour for the 350MW Sweihan solar project in Abu Dhabi, a new world record. Sarah Dea / The National
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An Asian consortium that submitted the lowest bid for the upcoming 350 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Abu Dhabi includes Marubeni of Japan and Jinko Solar of China, it has been revealed.

Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority’s procurement arm said it had received six bids, with Marubeni and Jinko Solar bidding 2.42 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), followed by Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, EDF and PAL at 2.54 cents per kWh.

The Marubeni-Jinko Solar bid of 2.41 cents per kWh is now the world’s lowest, beating the previous low of 2.91 cents for a solar plant in Chile last month.

The other bids were 2.59 cents per kWh from Tenaga and Phelan Energy; RWE/Belectric at 2.91 cents; JGC, First Solar and Sojitz at 3.08 cents and Kepco, Q Cells and GSE at 3.63 cents.

As an alternative bid, Marubeni and Jinko submitted an offer to expand the plant to 1,170MW at an offer of 2.30 cents, according to sources who did not want to be named.

However, it is important to note that these submissions do not mean that the project has been awarded as authorities will now evaluate the proposals to ensure thoroughness and economic viability.

lgraves@thenational.ae

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