Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has issued a request for proposals (RFPs) to prequalified bidders for its planned 800MW solar independent power project (IPP).

The utility has invited developers to submit bids by 28 March for the IPP, which will comprise the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum solar park.

The scheme will be developed in three phases, with bidders having been invited to submit proposals for part or all of the 800MW capacity.

The first phase, phase A, will have a capacity of 200MW, and is planned to be commissioned by April 2018. The second phase, phase B, will have a capacity of 300MW, which will be commissioned by April 2019. The third phase, phase C, will have a capacity of 300MW, and will be commissioned by April 2020.

Bidders have been invited to submit proposals under three models.

For alternative proposals 1 and 2, a single special-purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed to develop the project. The scheme will be developed under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

MEED reported in December that Dewa had received 21 requests for qualification (RFQs) for the 800MW project. The utility had received expressions of interest (EOIs) from 95 companies in September.

In 2015, Dubai increased its targets for renewable energy. The Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum solar park is planned to produce 1,000MW of renewable energy, with this figure rising to 5,000MW by 2030.

On 29 March 2015, Dewa signed a 25-year PPA with Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power for the 200MW second phase of the solar park. Spain’s TSK is also participating in the consortium, and the US’ First Solar will provide solar panels.