Siemens Energy Brings First HL-Class Gas Turbine to UAE in 2.6 GW Taweelah C Contract

Siemens Energy has been selected to supply gas and steam turbine technology for the Taweelah C Independent Power Producer (IPP) project in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a combined cycle plant with a total planned capacity of 2.6 gigawatts.¹ The contract marks the third consecutive power plant on the Taweelah site to be equipped by Siemens Energy, cementing the OEM's long-running presence in Abu Dhabi's utility-scale generation fleet.

What equipment is Siemens Energy supplying?

The scope of supply includes three SGT5-9000HL gas turbines, two SST5-5000 steam turbines, five generators comprising SGen5-3000W and SGen5-2000P models, and auxiliary systems. The SGT5-9000HL units will be the first HL-class gas turbines deployed in the UAE, representing Siemens Energy's highest-efficiency class of large frame machines. The gas turbines and steam turbines will be manufactured at Siemens Energy facilities in Berlin and Muelheim, Germany, while the generators will be produced at the company's Charlotte, USA plant.

The project is being developed by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) alongside an international consortium comprising Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company of Saudi Arabia and Singapore's Sembcorp Industries. China Energy Engineering Group Corporation is serving as the EPC contractor, and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) will act as the sole electricity offtaker. [1]

What role does this plant play in Abu Dhabi's energy strategy?

The plant is designed to deliver grid flexibility and enable large-scale renewable energy integration for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and has been engineered to accommodate future carbon capture and storage units in alignment with the UAE's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The CCS-ready design is a notable feature for a project of this scale, reflecting the increasingly common requirement among Gulf utilities to future-proof new gas infrastructure against evolving decarbonization mandates.

Karim Amin, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy, emphasized the strategic significance of the HL-class debut in the UAE: "As energy systems around the world face growing demand and pressure to deliver both reliability and flexibility, the role of dispatchable gas-fired power generation is more crucial than ever. We are proud to contribute our technologies and expertise to the Taweelah C project, including the first HL-class gas turbine in the UAE, with industry-leading performance."

Why does this matter for the turbomachinery industry?

For turbomachinery professionals, Taweelah C is notable on several fronts. The HL-class introduction to the UAE expands the regional installed base for Siemens Energy's most advanced frame, with long-term implications for local service and parts infrastructure. The multi-OEM, multi-contractor project structure — spanning Germany, the US, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and China — also illustrates the increasingly global supply chain complexity behind large utility projects in the Gulf. As demand from data centers, desalination, and electrification load growth continues to pressure generation capacity across the Middle East, projects of this scale and technical specification are likely to become more frequent, not less.

References

Siemens Energy. "Siemens Energy delivers turbines, advanced power plant technology, to 2.6 GW Taweelah C power project in Abu Dhabi." June 16, 2026.