MASDAR, EWEC Start Work on $5.99 Billion RE Project

Works on the world’s largest renewable energy project, integrating solar power and battery storage, capable of delivering 1 gigawatt (GW) of baseload renewable energy around the clock at a globally competitive tariff, was launched in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The $5.99 billion project, being developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (MASDAR) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), integrates a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system (BESS), the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind in the world.

H H Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, was among the dignitaries who witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of the project.

The project reimagines the potential of renewable energy by overcoming intermittency. Once operational, the project will produce giga-scale baseload energy at a globally competitive tariff for the first time, setting a new international benchmark and reaffirming the UAE leadership’s position in renewable energy development.

The project will create more than 10,000 jobs, as well as new manufacturing facilities, while avoiding approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually when the facility becomes operational by 2027.

The project design features cutting-edge technologies, including virtual power plant, grid-forming and black start capabilities, and AI-enhanced forecasting and intelligent dispatch.

Redefining Clean Energy’s Role

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of MASDAR, said that with the unwavering support of President H H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and H H 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 H H Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this giga-scale 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,” he added.

MASDAR CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said that the this was 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,” he added.

EWEC CEO Ahmed Ali Alshamsi said that this project is a testament to the vision of the UAE President H H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the unwavering commitment of EWEC and their 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,” Alshamsi added.