UAE lays foundation stone for first and largest renewable energy project of its kind in the world

UAE lays foundation stone for largest renewable energy project

                       

UAE lays foundation stone for first and largest renewable energy project of its kind in the world

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs' Families, witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony for the development of the world's first and largest renewable energy project of its kind. The project combines solar power and battery storage, providing one gigawatt of clean baseload power around the clock at a globally competitive tariff.

The project is being developed and implemented by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), in partnership with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC). It includes a 5.2 GW photovoltaic solar power plant equipped with a 19 GWh battery storage system, the largest and most technologically advanced in the world. The project, which is expected to be operational in 2027, has an investment value of over AED 22 billion. It will create more than 10,000 jobs, establish new manufacturing facilities, and avoid approximately 5.7 million tons of carbon emissions annually.

The project will contribute to a qualitative shift in the renewable energy sector by resolving the instability of its supply. Once operational, it will produce clean baseload power for the first time at a globally competitive tariff, establishing a new global standard and consolidating the UAE's leading position in the clean energy sector. The project is designed to serve as a model applicable to other major markets around the world to meet the growing demand for clean, reliable, and 24/7 energy.

The project is scheduled to be operational in 2027.

The project utilizes a range of advanced technologies, including virtual power plant modeling, grid shaping and self-restart capabilities, AI-enhanced forecasting, and a smart power distribution system.

Dr. Abdullah Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: “The UAE’s journey towards sustainable energy embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and our unwavering commitment to transforming national ambitions into world-leading achievements, consolidating Abu Dhabi’s position as a global model for adopting advanced technology solutions to achieve the optimal energy mix.”

He added: “This strategic project is a practical embodiment of this approach, providing sustainable renewable energy with a capacity of up to one gigawatt as baseload. It redefines the way renewable energy is harnessed to support economic growth and enhance the resilience of the national energy system to serve vital sectors such as data centers for artificial intelligence.”

Ahmed Ali Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), said: “This pioneering project embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and underscores the commitment of EWEC and its partners to implementing and developing transformative innovations that contribute to supporting national goals. 

Building on the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for AI research and innovation, this project ensures that the energy needs of this vital sector are met sustainably. We are proud of our strategic collaboration with Masdar on this pioneering project, which paves the way for a new era of energy in the UAE.”

Masdar has significant global projects in battery energy storage systems, including the world’s first energy storage system connected to a floating offshore wind farm, in addition to numerous other projects in operation and development around the world. Masdar aims to increase the total capacity of its clean energy portfolio to 100 gigawatts by 2030.