Abu Dhabi unveils world’s first 24/7 Solar PV, Battery Storage Giga-scale project
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the world’s first large-scale, 24/7 Giga-scale renewable energy facility, combining solar power with advanced battery storage in the capital.
This groundbreaking project was launched in partnership with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) with the aim of positioning the UAE as a global pioneer in renewable energy deployment.
The project, witnessed by the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was launched by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, alongside Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Group CEO of ADQ earlier this week.
“For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency—sourcing uninterrupted clean power day and night,” Dr. Al Jaber said. “This groundbreaking project solves that issue, thanks to the visionary leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” he added.
Dr. Al Jaber highlighted that the project, for the first time, will transform renewable energy into 1 GW of reliable baseload power every day on an unprecedented scale. “This marks a pivotal step that could become a giant leap for the world,” he exclaimed.
Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, also stated that the accelerated integration of solar power and advanced battery energy storage sets a new benchmark in clean energy in the country. It will further drive sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.
“By advancing energy infrastructure, we are leading the way in developing cost-effective, scalable renewable energy, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a key player in shaping the future of global energy,” Alsuwaidi affirmed.
The largest of its kind in the world, the new facility features a 5.2GW (DC) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with the capacity of 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery storage to boost the generation of 1 GW of uninterrupted, baseload renewable energy. The plant is designed to ensure a continuous supply of clean power day and night to overcome the challenge of renewable energy intermittency.
Othman Al Ali, EWEC CEO, said, “By launching the world’s largest solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System, Abu Dhabi is setting a new global standard for sustainable energy development and innovation. This landmark project embodies EWEC’s unwavering commitment to decarbonizing the energy sector while driving the UAE’s socio-economic growth.”
“As the backbone of the nation’s clean energy transition, this facility supports critical industries such as AI and advanced technologies, ensuring their power needs are met sustainably and reliably,” the EWEC CEO added.
With this initiative, the UAE aims to bolster its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and set standards of sustainable energy by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
