The United Arab Emirates has broken ground on a solar-storage project in Abu Dhabi that will be capable of delivering 1GW of continuous baseload power.
Developed by Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the scheme will integrate a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic plant with a 19GWh battery energy storage system.
The initiative aims to overcome the intermittency of renewables and establish a global benchmark for dispatchable clean energy at a competitive tariff, the developers said.
Masdar chair and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Al Jaber said: “Masdar and EWEC are breaking ground on the future, here in Abu Dhabi. This giga-scale project is a step towards redefining the role of renewable energy for the information age. This breakthrough is the culmination of Masdar’s two decades of excellence in renewables and is testament to the power of collaboration in Abu Dhabi’s energy ecosystem.”
Masdar chief executive Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said the development “represents a pivotal moment in clean energy transformation”, adding: “This world-first project, the largest and most ambitious in Masdar’s history, is a blueprint for the world, demonstrating that renewable energy can be dispatched around the clock.”
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the $6bn facility will create more than 10,000 jobs and avoid approximately 5.7 million tonnes of CO2 annually, according to the developers.
EWEC chief executive Ahmed Ali Alshamsi said: “This landmark project is a testament to the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Abu Dhabi and the UAE are a global hub for artificial intelligence research, innovation, and adoption, and this project will ensure that the energy needs of this key sector are met sustainably, powering the next generation of economic growth.”