Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have broken ground on what is being hailed as the world’s first gigawatt-scale solar-plus-storage project designed to provide round-the-clock renewable baseload power. The $6 billion development, unveiled on October 24, 2025, represents a landmark in the global energy transition.
The project will integrate a 5.2 GW solar photovoltaic plant with a 19 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS), making it the largest and most technologically advanced facility of its kind. Once operational in 2027, it is expected to deliver 1 GW of continuous clean electricity, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes while avoiding an estimated 5.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, attended by senior UAE officials including Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the initiative was described as a cornerstone of the country’s strategy to diversify its energy mix and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Supplier contracts have been awarded to major international firms: CATL will provide the battery systems, Jinko Solar and JA Solar will supply photovoltaic modules, while POWERCHINA and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will handle engineering, procurement, and construction. Analysts note that this global supply-chain collaboration underscores the UAE’s role as a hub for large-scale renewable innovation.
The project is also expected to strengthen regional energy security by ensuring reliable, carbon-free electricity even during non-sunlight hours. EWEC officials emphasized that the facility will serve as a model for future renewable baseload projects worldwide, demonstrating that solar energy, when paired with advanced storage, can rival traditional fossil fuel plants in reliability.
With construction now underway, Masdar and EWEC’s partnership signals a decisive step toward reshaping the global energy landscape. The project not only cements the UAE’s leadership in clean energy but also sets a precedent for how nations can scale renewable power to meet both climate goals and growing electricity demand.
Sources: PV Magazine International; ESG News; SolarQuarter.
