Masdar, EWEC break ground on 1 GW baseload solar-plus-storage project

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) and Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (EWEC) have started building a solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi that will deliver 1 GW of continuous baseload energy from a 5.2 GW solar plant paired with a 19 GWh battery system.

Masdar and EWEC have started building what they call the world’s first gigawatt-scale renewable energy project capable of providing 24/7 continuous power. The project integrates a 5.2 GW solar power plant with a 19 GWh battery energy storage system. The two companies initially unveiled their plans in January, targeting commercial operation by 2027 for the solar-plus-storage facility in Abu Dhabi.

Valued at over AED 22 billion (USD 5.99 billion), the project is scheduled for completion in 2027 and is projected to reduce approximately 5.7 million tons of carbon emissions annually. Serving as a model for future renewable energy initiatives worldwide, the facility aims to address the intermittency of solar power while delivering reliable baseload energy at a competitive cost.