The UAE has broken ground on what it claims is the world’s first gigascale round-the-clock renewable energy project.

It is said to be the world’s largest combined solar power and battery storage project, capable of delivering 1GW of baseload renewable energy around the clock at a globally competitive tariff, establishing a blueprint for future international deployments.

UAE state-owned renewable energy company Masdar and the Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC) are deploying the project to help power the UAE’s AI revolution while creating more than 10,000 jobs and avoiding approximately 5.7 million tonnes of CO₂ per annum.

The project will integrate a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 19GWh battery energy storage system (BESS), said to be the largest and most technologically advanced of its kind in the world. The design includes AI-enhanced forecasting and intelligent dispatch, and AI-ready infrastructure for predictive analytics and system optimisation.

“Masdar and EWEC are breaking ground on the future, here in Abu Dhabi,” said Sultan Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and chairman of Masdar. “This gigascale project is a step towards redefining the role of renewable energy for the information age. This breakthrough is the culmination of Masdar’s two decades of excellence in renewables and is testament to the power of collaboration in Abu Dhabi’s energy ecosystem. As the world looks for secure, sustainable and affordable energy, the UAE is proud to offer a new vision for technologically enabled growth.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar CEO, added: “This world-first project, the largest and most ambitious in Masdar’s history, is a blueprint for the world, demonstrating that renewable energy can be dispatched around the clock. By overcoming the challenge of intermittency, we can provide sustainable power to meet fast-growing demand from advancements in artificial intelligence and other technologies. We look forward to working closely with EWEC and our partners to deliver this landmark project, which will set the global standard for renewable energy development and support other nations in delivering on their clean energy objectives.”

Once complete, the project will deliver 1GW of continuous, clean baseload power around the clock at a globally competitive tariff, avoiding approximately 5.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually and supporting the UAE’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy mix. The facility is scheduled to be operational by 2027.

“Abu Dhabi and the UAE are a global hub for artificial intelligence research, innovation and adoption, and this project will ensure that the energy needs of this key sector are met sustainably, powering the next generation of economic growth,” said Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, CEO of EWEC (www.ewec.ae). “We are proud to have strategically collaborated with Masdar on this iconic project, and to break ground on a new era of energy in the UAE.”

The project represents capital investment in excess of $6bn. Its development will create over 10,000 jobs and new manufacturing and service facilities, reflecting the UAE’s vision and commitment to drive socioeconomic growth. The project should provide affordable, reliable, clean power to meet increasing energy demand from AI and the digital economy. The UAE is positioning AI as a cornerstone of its economic diversification and is targeting being a global leader in the sector under its 2031 national strategy by investing in the people and industries that are key to the UAE’s success.

Masdar (www.masdar.ae) has established a strong presence in battery storage with investments in the USA, UK and elsewhere, including the world’s first storage system connected to a floating offshore wind farm, and has projects in operation and development in a number of countries. Masdar is targeting an overall project portfolio capacity across clean energy technologies of 100GW by 2030.