Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (EWEC) have unveiled plans for a $6 billion solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi. The facility will integrate 5.2 GW of solar power with 19 GWh of battery energy storage (BESS) to deliver 1 GW of continuous renewable baseload energy. Operations are scheduled to commence by 2027.

The project was announced by Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit 2025. He emphasized the project's role in overcoming renewable energy intermittency challenges, crucial for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI and data centers.

Spanning 90 square kilometers in the Abu Dhabi desert, the project is Masdar's most ambitious initiative to date, according to Abdulaziz Alobaidli, the company's COO. The development is debt-funded and aims to attract international interest for scaling the technology globally.

EWEC Executive Director Andy Biffen highlighted the project's economic and technological potential, emphasizing the inclusion of competitive tariffs. While EWEC is not the primary developer, its experience with large-scale solar projects, such as the 2 GW Al Dhafra project, provides a strong foundation for collaboration.

The facility is part of Masdar's broader renewable energy portfolio, with previous projects in the UK, the US, and Uzbekistan informing its approach. Discussions with top-tier suppliers are ongoing, and further technology details will be announced.

Source: pv-magazine.com