The United Arab Emirates has announced the launch of what it claims to be the world’s first renewable energy facility capable of delivering uninterrupted power at scale. The $6 billion project, led by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company, will integrate 5 gigawatts of solar capacity with 19 gigawatt hours of battery storage, enabling the production of 1 gigawatt of continuous clean energy.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and chairman of Masdar, unveiled the project during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, describing it as a landmark achievement in overcoming renewable energy’s greatest challenge: intermittency.
“For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been its inability to provide consistent power. This project will, for the first time, transform renewable energy into baseload energy, marking a pivotal step towards a more sustainable energy future,” Dr. Al Jaber said.
Ambitious Vision for a Renewable Future
The facility, which will span 90 square kilometers in Abu Dhabi, is expected to become operational by 2027. The financing model is expected to follow a mix of equity and project finance debt, Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Masdar’s Chief Operating Officer, told reporters. He described the initiative as the company’s “most ambitious project to date.”
The launch comes as global leaders face mounting pressure to accelerate renewable energy deployment to meet critical climate goals. The UAE has pledged to triple its renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, targets essential to maintaining the 1.5°C global warming limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Urgent Global Action Needed
Despite record investment of $570 billion in renewable energy in 2023, the world remains off-track to meet these ambitious goals. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), annual investment in renewables needs to triple to $1.5 trillion by 2030 to bridge the gap. Current plans are projected to deliver just half of the required growth, leaving a shortfall of 3.8 terawatts in installed capacity by 2030.
Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s director general, has called for more aligned policies and market designs to foster renewable energy adoption. “The world is not on track, and urgent action is required to course-correct,” he said.
UAE’s Leadership in Renewables
The UAE, a prominent player in the energy transition, has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity, doubling it in the past two years. The nation aims to generate 19.8 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030 as part of its updated Energy Strategy 2050. Planned projects include the sixth phase of Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (1.8 gigawatts) and two major photovoltaic facilities in Abu Dhabi – the 1.5-gigawatt Al Ajban and Al Khazna plants.
Masdar has set its sights on achieving 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, a significant increase from its current 20 gigawatts.
Soaring Global Power Demand
Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the growing demand for electricity, fueled by technological advancements such as artificial intelligence. Global power demand is projected to surge from 9,000 gigawatts in 2023 to over 15,000 gigawatts by 2035, and potentially 35,000 gigawatts by 2050, a 250% increase.
“Battery storage is the fastest-growing energy technology today, with 100 gigawatts of capacity expected to be added this year,” Dr. Al Jaber said. “Yet, this represents only a fraction of the demand growth driven by megatrends, particularly the rise of AI applications, which consume significantly more energy than traditional digital platforms.”
An Inclusive Energy Approach
Dr. Al Jaber emphasized the need for a diversified energy mix to meet future demand. “No single source of energy can fulfill this unprecedented growth. Policies that prematurely narrow energy options are counterproductive. We need an ‘and-and’ approach to ensure global access to reliable, sustainable energy,” he said.
The UAE’s groundbreaking project underscores its commitment to leading the global energy transition while addressing the escalating challenges of climate change and energy security. As nations grapple with the urgent need to scale renewables, Abu Dhabi’s initiative offers a blueprint for integrating clean power into the global energy grid.