Abu Dhabi has broken ground on a pioneering renewable energy project that could redefine how the world powers its cities. The emirate has begun construction on the world’s first gigascale facility designed to deliver uninterrupted, around-the-clock electricity from renewable sources alone — marking a major milestone in the global transition to clean energy.
The Dh22-billion project, jointly developed by Masdar and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), will generate one gigawatt of continuous clean power when it becomes operational in 2027. It will combine vast solar installations with what is set to become the world’s largest battery storage system, capable of storing 19 gigawatt-hours of energy. This massive capacity will allow the plant to capture surplus solar power during the day and release it steadily through the night or during cloudy conditions, ensuring stable baseload electricity without relying on fossil fuels.
Spanning an area comparable to Manhattan, the facility represents one of the largest renewable energy investments in the world. Officials say it could power hundreds of thousands of homes across the UAE, avoiding approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually — the equivalent of removing more than one million cars from the road.
“Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, attended the groundbreaking ceremony,” state media reported. The project, he said, reflects the UAE’s leadership vision to drive decarbonisation and energy innovation.
“This project aligns with the UAE’s leadership vision to decarbonise and innovate,” said Ibraheem Al Mansouri, Director of Engineering at Masdar, in an interview with Khaleej Times. “It marks the start of a new era for renewable energy globally.”
The development directly tackles one of the renewable energy sector’s greatest challenges — intermittency. Unlike traditional power plants, which burn fossil fuels continuously, solar and wind energy depend on weather conditions, producing electricity only when the sun shines or the wind blows. Abu Dhabi’s project promises to change that equation by ensuring a constant, reliable flow of green power.
“Being part of Masdar’s journey from the early days and continuing to deliver first-of-its-kind projects globally is inspiring,” Al Mansouri added. “This project changes the mindset about renewable energy and proves what’s possible.”
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs and establish new manufacturing facilities across the UAE, reinforcing the nation’s role as a hub for clean energy innovation.
Founded in 2006, Masdar has expanded its renewable energy footprint to more than 40 countries and is targeting 100 gigawatts of global clean energy capacity by 2030. The new Abu Dhabi facility, its largest and most ambitious yet, underscores that vision.
“Ten years from now, I hope people will remember this as the start of a new era,” Al Mansouri said. “We’ve proven renewable energy can deliver continuous, reliable power — supporting the growing demand driven by AI and digitalisation.”
