Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) and Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (EWEC) have started construction on a solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi that will provide 1 GW of continuous baseload energy from a 5.2 GW solar power plant combined with a 19 GWh battery system.
Masdar and EWEC have started construction on what they describe as the world’s first gigawatt-scale renewable energy project that provides continuous power 24 hours a day.
The development combines a 5.2 GW solar power plant with a 19 GWh battery energy storage system. The two companies first announced plans in January to develop the solar-plus-storage facility in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of reaching operational status in 2027.
The project is worth more than AED 22 billion ($5.99 billion) and will create more than 10,000 jobs, according to an online statement from Masdar. Once completed in 2027, it is expected to offset approximately 5.7 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Masdar said the facility will act as a blueprint for the global deployment of renewable energy by overcoming the volatility of solar power generation and producing baseload energy at a competitive cost.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of Masdar, said the project underlines the collaborative power of Abu Dhabi’s energy sector.
“This world-first project, the largest and most ambitious in Masdar’s history, is a blueprint for the world and shows that renewable energy can be available 24 hours a day,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.
Masdar, which has storage projects in several countries, said it aims to reach a total capacity of 100 GW of clean energy by 2030.
In September, a consortium led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) awarded the contract to develop a 500 MW solar-plus-storage project in Oman, integrating a 100 MWh battery system.
And in July, Masdar and EDF’s joint venture, Emerge, signed a 20-year agreement to install a 621 kWp rooftop PV system atop a carport structure in the Saudi city of Misk.
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