The UAE has achieved another breakthrough in the clean energy sector. On October 24, the world’s first large-scale round-the-clock solar-plus-storage project, jointly developed by Masdar and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), officially broke ground in Abu Dhabi, marking a new era in global renewable energy development.
Record-Breaking Project Scale
The project represents a total investment exceeding AED 22 billion (approximately $6 billion) and will construct a 5.2-gigawatt solar photovoltaic power plant paired with a 19-gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system. This is currently the world’s largest solar-plus-storage combined project in the utility sector, capable of delivering 1 gigawatt of uninterrupted baseload power 24 hours a day once operational.
The project is scheduled to commence operations in 2027, creating over 10,000 jobs and generating new manufacturing opportunities. According to developer estimates, the facility will avoid approximately 5.7 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing over 1 million cars from the roads each year.
Chinese Suppliers Dominate Core Equipment Supply
Chinese companies occupy central positions in the supplier selection, forming a supply chain landscape dominated by “Made in China.”
Solar Module Supply: JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of the world’s largest solar module manufacturers, will each supply 2.6 gigawatts of solar panels, jointly undertaking the supply of the project’s entire 5.2GW solar capacity. These two companies stood out in fierce international competition through their technological advantages and production capacity.
Energy Storage Core: Global battery giant CATL has been selected as the preferred supplier for the energy storage system, providing a 19-gigawatt-hour battery storage solution for the project. This represents one of CATL’s major large-scale storage projects in overseas markets and a significant breakthrough in its Middle Eastern energy storage business. The 19GWh storage capacity sets a new record for utility-scale projects globally, fully demonstrating CATL’s leading position and technological maturity in large-scale grid-level lithium battery applications.
Construction Force: POWERCHINA and India’s Larsen & Toubro have been selected as preferred engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, responsible for project implementation and construction. POWERCHINA’s extensive experience in global large-scale energy infrastructure projects provides assurance for timely, high-quality project completion.
Storage Technology Solves Intermittency Challenge
The project’s core innovation lies in using large-scale energy storage systems to address the intermittency problem of renewable energy. The 19-gigawatt-hour battery storage system can store excess energy during peak solar generation periods and continuously discharge during nighttime or low-light periods, achieving round-the-clock stable power supply.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, stated: “For decades, intermittency has been the biggest barrier facing renewable energy—this has been the moonshot challenge of our time. Now, we have found the solution, transforming renewable energy into 1 gigawatt of reliable baseload energy for the first time.”
The facility will employ multiple cutting-edge technologies, including virtual power plant systems, grid-forming and black start capabilities, and AI-based forecasting and dispatch systems. The integration of these technologies will ensure stability and reliability of power supply, enabling solar energy to truly replace traditional fossil fuel baseload power plants.
Andy Biffen, Executive Director of Asset Development at EWEC, noted that although battery storage is relatively new technology, there is now sufficient understanding of battery cell degradation characteristics and the ability to obtain quality products from battery suppliers, allowing them to be packaged, financed, and converted into long-term power supply agreements. Masdar and EWEC are still in deep discussions with top-tier suppliers regarding the project, with more specific technical details to be announced later.
Providing Green Power for the AI Era
The project’s launch is closely related to the rapid development of the global artificial intelligence industry. Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, CEO of EWEC, stated: “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.”
Data centers and AI facilities have extremely high requirements for power supply stability and continuity, which traditional intermittent renewable energy struggles to meet. Through deep integration of solar and storage, this project can provide power supply stability comparable to traditional power plants while maintaining the environmental advantage of zero carbon emissions.
Global Clean Energy Transition Benchmark
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, stated: “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.”
The project’s technology and business model are highly replicable, providing a viable path for other countries and regions to develop large-scale renewable baseload power. Andy Biffen, Executive Director of Asset Development at EWEC, confirmed that the project’s tariff will be “competitive” and in line with the rest of EWEC’s portfolio. EWEC has several large-scale solar projects in the region, including the 2GW Al Dhafra solar project in Abu Dhabi.
Notably, while the UAE’s project is unprecedented in scale, other regions globally are also actively exploring similar solutions. Chile is currently constructing the Oasis de Atacama project in phases, which will feature 2GW of solar and up to 11GWh of energy storage. The Middle East region has lagged behind mature markets like China and the US in battery storage, but based on policy drivers such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the region is expected to rapidly catch up. Saudi Arabia is conducting its first 8GWh battery storage public procurement, and Chinese battery storage specialist Hithium recently announced plans to build a 5GWh production facility in Saudi Arabia in partnership with Saudi engineering solutions company MANAT.
Supporting National Energy Strategy
The project is a crucial component of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and a key initiative in implementing the UAE Consensus agreed at COP28. By integrating the most advanced renewable energy technologies with energy storage solutions, the project demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to scaling innovative clean energy solutions to meet evolving energy demands.
The successful implementation of the project will further consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in utility-scale renewable energy innovation and ensure the UAE continues to lead by example on the path to achieving its 2050 net-zero emissions target.
As the project progresses, the global energy industry will closely monitor its technical performance and economic benefits, which will provide critical data and experiential support for renewable energy to completely replace fossil fuel baseload power, pushing global energy transformation into a new phase. For Chinese suppliers such as CATL, JA Solar, and Jinko Solar, the project’s success will become an important benchmark case in the global market, potentially driving more international orders.
