UAE breaks ground on world’s first 24-hour renewable power plant

The UAE has begun construction on a US$6 billion solar-and-battery megaproject near Abu Dhabi — the first in the world able to deliver renewable power continuously, day and night — marking a major step in its plan to make clean energy the backbone of the country’s fast-growing AI-driven economy

The United Arab Emirates has begun building what will be the world’s first renewable-energy plant able to supply power continuously, day and night — a milestone project that its developers say could redefine how clean energy is delivered.

The US$6 billion facility near Abu Dhabi will combine one of the world’s largest solar farms with an immense battery-storage system, allowing it to produce one gigawatt of electricity — roughly enough to power a city the size of Birmingham — without interruption.

It marks the first time anywhere that solar power has been scaled to provide constant “baseload” supply, tackling the problem of intermittency that limits most renewables.

Developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE’s state-owned clean-energy champion, together with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the project will integrate 5.2 gigawatts of solar panels with a 19 gigawatt-hour battery storage system — the largest and most advanced of its kind.

Artificial-intelligence systems will forecast sunlight, manage battery discharge and optimise output to meet national demand.

His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, said: “Masdar and EWEC are breaking ground on the future, here in Abu Dhabi. … This gigascale project is a step towards redefining the role of renewable energy for the information age… the UAE is proud to offer a new vision for technologically enabled growth.”

Masdar’s Chief Executive Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi called it “a blueprint for the world”, demonstrating that renewable energy “can be dispatched around the clock” to meet surging demand from artificial-intelligence technologies and data centres.

Due for completion in 2027, the plant is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs and prevent around 5.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

Masdar and EWEC said the project will also provide the clean-power backbone for the UAE’s fast-growing AI and digital economy, part of a wider goal to reach 100 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030.

READ MORE: ‘Global development banks agree new priorities on finance, water security and private capital ahead of COP30’. Banking chiefs have pledged to deepen cooperation on climate finance, infrastructure and private capital mobilisation, publishing a series of joint reports and new transparency measures as the UAE prepares for COP30 in Brazil.

Do you have news to share or expertise to contribute? The European welcomes insights from business leaders and sector specialists. Get in touch with our editorial team to find out more.

_{Main image: UAE breaks ground on world’s first gigascale round-the-clock renewable energy project, setting a new global standard for clean energy. Credit: Masdar}