UAE launches 24/7 solar PV and battery storage project in Abu Dhabi

The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the launch of the large-scale ’round the clock’ gigascale project by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) in Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ.

The project, which combines solar power and battery storage, will allow renewable energy to be generated and distributed continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system will produce up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload power daily and will be the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the world. The facility will consist of a 5.2GW (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, said, “For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency—to be able to source uninterrupted clean power day and night. This has been the moonshot challenge of our time, and now, thanks to the resolute support of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with this groundbreaking project we have found the solution. In collaboration with EWEC and our partners, we will develop a renewable energy facility capable of providing clean energy round the clock. For the first time ever, this will transform renewable energy into a world-leading 1GW of reliable baseload energy every day on an unprecedented scale – a first step that could become a giant leap for the world.”

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, said, “The accelerated integration of solar power and advanced battery energy storage sets a new benchmark in clean energy, driving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. By advancing energy infrastructure, we are leading the way in developing cost-effective, scalable renewable energy, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a key player in shaping the future of global energy. Guided by the UAE leadership, this united effort within the energy sector powers the nation’s technological advancement, ushering in a new era of intelligence, resilience, flexibility, and commercial opportunity while ensuring sustainable and uninterrupted energy for exponential growth.”

Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, emphasized that the project sets a new global standard for sustainable energy development and innovation. It supports the UAE’s goals for decarbonizing the energy sector and driving socioeconomic growth.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said, “Developed in the UAE by Masdar, this record-breaking project will create over 10,000 new jobs, driving innovation and economic growth. As Masdar’s largest and most ambitious project to date, combining an incredible 5.2GW of solar PV with 19GW hours of battery storage – the largest ever for a power utility project – this is truly clean energy on an unprecedented scale. Masdar, EWEC, and its valued project partners are setting a new global benchmark in technological innovation to address the challenge of renewable energy intermittency to generate 1GW of clean, uninterrupted power 24 hours a day, round the clock.”

The solar PV and BESS facility aims to address intermittency challenges in renewable energy, with a 19GWh battery storage supporting solar power integration into the grid. The project aligns with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and contributes to the country’s energy transition efforts, as discussed at COP28. It plays a role in meeting energy demands and supporting the UAE Consensus.

Established in 2006, Masdar, a player in renewable energy, has developed projects in over 40 countries with a combined capacity of 31.5 gigawatts (GW) and aims to expand its portfolio to 100GW by 2030 while also becoming a leading green hydrogen producer.

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