Masdar and EWEC Break Ground on World’s Largest Solar and Battery Storage Project to Deliver 1 GW of Baseload Renewable Energy

His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the world’s largest renewable energy project integrating solar power and battery storage. The landmark development will deliver 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload renewable energy around the clock at a globally competitive tariff.

Developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, in partnership with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the project combines a 5.2 GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) — the largest and most advanced of its kind globally.

By integrating large-scale storage with solar generation, the project addresses the challenge of renewable energy intermittency, ensuring continuous, reliable, and clean power supply. Once operational, it will deliver gigawatt-scale baseload energy for the first time worldwide, setting a new global benchmark and reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in renewable innovation.

Representing an investment of over AED 22 billion, the project will create more than 10,000 jobs and new manufacturing opportunities while avoiding approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. It is scheduled to be operational by 2027.

The facility will deploy advanced technologies including virtual power plant systems, grid-forming and black start capabilities, and AI-driven forecasting and dispatch, establishing a model that can be replicated internationally to meet growing demand for 24/7 clean energy.

His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, said: “Today, Masdar and EWEC are breaking ground on the future, here in Abu Dhabi. With the unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this gigascale 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. As the world looks for secure, sustainable and affordable energy, the UAE is proud to offer a new vision for technologically enabled growth.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Today’s groundbreaking is a proud occasion for Masdar and the UAE, and represents a pivotal moment in clean energy transformation. 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. By overcoming the challenge of intermittency, we can provide sustainable power to meet fast-growing demand from advancements in artificial intelligence and other technologies. We look forward to working closely with EWEC and our partners to deliver this landmark project, which will set the global standard for renewable energy development and support other nations in delivering on their clean energy objectives.”

Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Water and Electricity Company, said: “This landmark project is a testament to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the unwavering commitment of EWEC and our partners in commissioning and developing transformative innovations that support national objectives. 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. We are proud to have strategically collaborated with Masdar on this iconic project, and to break ground on a new era of energy in the UAE.”