November 2, 2025: The United Arab Emirates has launched construction of a Dh22bn ($6 billion) renewable energy project featuring a 5.2GW solar power plant with an advanced 19GWh BESS.

Clean energy group Masdar said on October 23 the BESS will be capable of delivering 1 GW of baseload renewable energy around the clock at a globally competitive tariff.

The battery chemistry to be deployed was not disclosed, but Masdar said the project it is developing with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company will be the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind in the world.

Once operational, the facility will set a new international benchmark, Masdar said.

The project will also act as a blueprint that can be replicated internationally.

Masdar said the design of the facility will feature cutting-edge technologies, including a virtual power plant, grid-forming and black start capabilities, and AI-enhanced forecasting and intelligent dispatch.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said: “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.

Masdar said it has already established a strong presence in battery storage, including what it said is the world’s first storage system connected to a floating offshore wind farm. The group, which has projects in operation and development in several countries, is targeting an overall project portfolio capacity across clean energy technologies of 100GW by 2030.