EWEC and Masdar plan to deploy more than 30 GW of solar PV and over 8 GW of battery storage in the UAE
The agreement will streamline project development and financing, helping speed up renewable energy deployment in the region, according to the partners
This partnership supports the UAE’s goal of meeting 60% of energy demand from clean sources by 2035 and advancing net-zero targets
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company Masdar have announced a partnership to accelerate the deployment of more than 30 GW of solar PV and over 8 GW of battery storage capacity in the UAE.
The agreement will streamline Masdar’s participation in the engagement process for EWEC’s renewable energy projects, covering early-stage project development through to financial close, explained the duo.
EWEC said the initiative aligns with national goals, including meeting 60% of Abu Dhabi’s total energy demand from clean and renewable energy sources by 2035 and achieving the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, CEO of EWEC, said the agreement is ‘a pivotal strategic tool’ to accelerate the country’s energy transition and ensure long-term supply security. It will also help the company lower costs and optimize its operations.
“By streamlining the development of utility-scale solar PV capacity, forecast to exceed 30GW by 2035, and integrating more than 8GW of battery energy storage, we are reshaping the sector while ensuring the long-term security of supply,” added Alshamsi.
The collaboration builds on their existing joint projects, such as 1.5 GW AC Al Ajban and 2 GW Al Dhafra solar plants. It supports their efforts to diversify the UAE’s energy mix and strengthen supply security (see 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Plant Commissioned In UAE).
Masdar is also building the world’s 1st large-scale round-the-clock (RTC) giga-scale project combining 5 GW DC solar PV and 19 GWh of battery storage to produce 1 GW of continuous, uninterrupted baseload renewable energy capacity for EWEC (see UAE To Host World’s ‘1st’ Facility To Provide RE 24x7, At Scale).
“Together, we are accelerating world-leading solutions, such as our gigascale Round-the-Clock solar project, while helping to diversify the UAE’s energy mix, strengthen national energy security, and provide local UAE industry with reliable, affordable, clean power,” added Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi.
Utility-scale solar will lead solar energy expansion in the UAE, which is expected to expand from 6.7 GW of solar capacity in 2025 to exceed 32 GW by 2035, according to GlobalData (see UAE’s Solar Capacity To Exceed 32 GW By 2035).