Mumbai-based engineering firm Sterling and Wilson has won both the EPC and O&M contract for the world’s single largest solar PV plant – the 1,177MW Noor Abu Dhabi plant in Sweihan.
The company, which is a subsidiary of the Mumbai-based conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has already begun construction on the plant, which is spread over 7.8 square km, and is set to be operational in a record 23 months.
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The plant is being jointly developed by Japan’s Marubeni and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). ADWEA and the government of Abu Dhabi will own 60% of the plant, with the remaining 40% being held by Marubeni and JinkoSolar, which is providing the modules for the plant. The consortium has successfully bid a tariff of US$2.42 cents/kWh, marking the lowest cost ever for solar power.
Once commissioned, the mammoth plant will provide enough clean energy to power 195,000 homes. It will also be a significant contributor to Abu Dhabi achieving its aim of energy diversification and transition to clean energy resources and low carbon growth.
“We are fully geared and very excited to be a part of this important milestone in the global solar market”, said Bikesh Ogra, president – Renewable Energy, Sterling and Wilson. “The strongest contributor to this tariff is the capital expense driven by lower equipment cost and a highly efficient system design. Our unique design offerings and state-of-the-art robotics optimizes the yield and performance of the plant.”
Sterling and Wilson is the largest EPC contractor in India having held a 9.1% market share in the last fiscal year, according to Bridge to India's Solar Map.
