Bahrain Launches International Tender for 100MW Bilaj Al Jazayer Solar IPP

Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has launched an international tender for the development of the Bilaj Al Jazayer Independent Power Project (BAJ Solar IPP), a utility-scale solar facility with a planned generation capacity of up to 100 megawatts alternating current (MWac).

The project forms part of Bahrain’s broader strategy to expand renewable energy generation and reduce reliance on conventional power sources, supporting the Kingdom’s national goal of achieving 20 percent renewable energy by 2035.

The solar power plant will be developed through a public-private partnership model under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) framework, allowing the selected developer to finance, construct, own, and operate the facility throughout the concession period.

Utility-Scale Solar Facility at Bilaj Al Jazayer

The BAJ Solar IPP will consist of a large-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm located in the Bilaj Al Jazayer area, one of Bahrain’s emerging coastal development zones.

According to project details, the facility will deploy proven photovoltaic module technology supported by utility-grade inverters, designed to operate efficiently under Bahrain’s local climatic conditions.

The scope of the project will include the development of the solar generation infrastructure as well as supporting facilities such as internal roads, site access infrastructure, and grid integration components.

The solar plant is expected to begin commercial operations by September 30 next year, contributing additional clean energy capacity to Bahrain’s national power grid.

25-Year Lifecycle Responsibility for Selected Developer

Under the terms of the tender, the selected bidder will assume responsibility for the full lifecycle of the project over a 25-year period.

This includes development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, decommissioning, and site restoration once the project reaches the end of its operational life.

The project will be procured through a single-stage Request for Proposal (RFP) process, with bidders first undergoing an Initial Capability Assessment based on Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs).

Financial and Technical Qualification Criteria

To qualify for the next stage of evaluation, bidders must demonstrate strong financial capacity and experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.

For a single bidder, the tender requires a minimum tangible net worth of $50 million based on the latest available audited financial statements.

For a bidding consortium, the group must collectively demonstrate a tangible net worth equivalent to its equity participation of at least $50 million, while the managing member must independently show a minimum net worth of $20 million.

In addition, the bidder or managing member must demonstrate proven experience in developing and financing major infrastructure projects, including securing limited-recourse financing of at least $150 million cumulatively across three or more projects within the last 10 years.

Only bidders meeting these criteria will proceed to the detailed technical and financial evaluation stage as outlined in the RFP documentation.

The Bilaj Al Jazayer Solar IPP represents a key step in Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its renewable energy capacity and diversify its energy mix.

By attracting international investors and developers, the project aims to accelerate the deployment of solar power infrastructure while supporting the Kingdom’s broader sustainability objectives.

Interested bidders have until March 11 to submit their proposals as part of the international tender process.