EWEC and Tadweer Group confirm key partners for world’s most advanced waste-to-energy facility in Abu Dhabi

A major project to accelerate the UAE’s circular economy is a step closer after EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) and Tadweer Group announced key partners in Abu Dhabi's pioneering waste-to-energy facility.

The entities on Thursday confirmed the signing of a concession agreement with a Japan-based consortium - it comprises Marubeni Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development (JOIN).

Sustainable waste champion Tadweer Group, EWEC - a leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity across the UAE - and their global partners will join forces for the development of the world-leading greenfield Abu Dhabi Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Independent Power Project (IPP).

Reducing emissions and landfill

On completion, it will be the world’s most advanced WtE facility and one of the region’s largest - setting benchmarks for similar energy projects in terms of scale, efficiency and environmental benefits.

It will have an expected annual processing capacity of 900,000 tonnes of waste and enable an anticipated carbon emissions reduction of 1.1m tonnes per year.

The project will reinforce Tadweer Group’s sustainability ambition of diverting 80% of Abu Dhabi’s waste from landfills by 2030 - and help create a blueprint for alternative energy sources.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, described the progress as “a milestone” for Abu Dhabi and the UAE as it continues to accelerate the decarbonisation and sustainable transformation of the country’s economy.

Raising the bar for WtE schemes

He said: “This significant waste-to-energy project enables Abu Dhabi’s strategic shift towards integrating sustainable and environmentally-friendly energy sources that cater to its community’s needs and drive development of the UAE’s circular economy.

“We are proud to expand our portfolio to include circular economy projects, such as waste-to-energy…we look forward to collaborating with Tadweer Group and our Japanese partners in setting a new standard for waste-to-energy projects in the region and beyond.”

Co-operation gives value to waste

Ali Al Dhaheri, Tadweer Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said the concession agreement marked “a new chapter in our mission to promote environmental sustainability and implement accelerated technology, showcasing the importance of waste conversion to clean energy”.

He continued: “This project is a cornerstone in our strategy to reduce reliance on landfills, lower carbon emissions, and support the UAE’s energy agenda. We look forward to working closely with our partners to harness pioneering technologies that transform waste into valuable resources.”

Isao Suzuki, Regional CEO of Marubeni Corporation for Middle-East, commented that the project showcases the strength of international collaboration in addressing global challenges