Abu Dhabi: In the presence of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC - Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) announced the launch of the world's first large-scale 'round the clock' gigascale project, combining solar power and battery storage in Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the launch was announced by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ. The project allows renewable energy to be dispatched 24 hours a day, seven days a week, reinforcing the UAE's position as a global leader in renewable energy deployment.
Delivering up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload power daily from renewable energy, this project will be the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) globally. Located in Abu Dhabi, it will feature a 5.2GW (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, coupled with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS, setting a new standard in clean energy innovation.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlighted that the project addresses the longstanding challenge of intermittency in renewable energy, providing uninterrupted clean power day and night. With support from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the collaboration with EWEC and partners aims to develop a facility capable of offering reliable baseload energy on a large scale.
His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi emphasized the integration of solar power and advanced battery storage as a new benchmark in clean energy, contributing to sustainability and reduced carbon emissions. The project aims to advance energy infrastructure and solidify Abu Dhabi's role in shaping the future of global energy.
Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, remarked that the project sets a global standard for sustainable energy development. It demonstrates EWEC's commitment to decarbonizing the energy sector while supporting the UAE's economic growth. The facility aims to support critical industries like AI and advanced technologies sustainably and reliably.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, stated that the project will create over 10,000 new jobs and drive innovation and economic growth. Combining 5.2GW of solar PV with 19GW hours of battery storage, the project represents a significant achievement in addressing renewable energy intermittency.
The solar PV and BESS facility will offer stability and efficiency by overcoming renewable energy's intermittency challenges. The 19GWh battery storage will enable seamless solar power integration into the grid, exemplifying the UAE's commitment to innovative clean energy solutions aligned with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.