Masdar, the Saudi state-owned renewable energy company, has officially commenced construction on an ambitious solar and energy storage initiative in Abu Dhabi. Valued at approximately AED232 billion (around US$5.9 billion), this project will integrate 5.2 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic power with a 19-gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system. This ambitious endeavor is touted as the most advanced of its type globally and is set to be operational by 2027, in collaboration with the Emirates Water and Electric Company (EWEC).
Masdar stated that the facility will deliver a consistent 1 gigawatt of energy continuously, addressing the challenge of intermittency in renewable sources and providing energy at globally competitive rates. While similar “round-the-clock” power projects are in development elsewhere, the scale of this initiative is unprecedented. Energy analyst Wood Mackenzie recently indicated that the cost of solar energy in the Middle East and Africa is the lowest worldwide, which adds to the project’s significance.
The facility will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies, including a virtual power plant with grid-forming capabilities and AI-driven energy management systems. Although specific energy consumers were not disclosed, EWEC’s CEO, Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, emphasized that this project will meet the energy demands of Abu Dhabi’s growing artificial intelligence sector, enhancing the region’s capacity for innovation and economic growth. Sultan Al Jaber, chairman of Masdar and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, highlighted the project’s potential to redefine renewable energy’s role in the digital era.
Earlier this year, Masdar secured supply agreements for its solar modules with Chinese firms JA Solar and Jinko Solar, while POWERCHINA and India’s Larsen and Toubro were chosen as preferred engineering contractors. Additionally, CATL, a Chinese energy storage company, will be supplying the battery energy storage system, showcasing Masdar’s expanding influence in large-scale renewable energy developments across the Middle East and North Africa.