Masdar Advances World-First 5.2GW Solar and 19GWh Battery Storage Project in Abu Dhabi

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World-first US$6.1 billion gigascale 24/7 clean energy project reaches financial close under Masdar

Masdar reached financial close on its US$6.1 billion gigascale round-the-clock (RTC) clean energy project in Abu Dhabi on July 13, 2026, securing US$5.1 billion in debt financing from a consortium of 13 international and regional banks. The developer further contributed US$1 billion in equity. The project, being developed in partnership with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), combines a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic plant with a 19GWh battery energy storage system to deliver up to 1GW of continuous clean power.

The financial close follows the start of construction in October 2025, with operations expected to begin in 2027. Beyond its scale, the project is significant because it aims to address solar intermittency by combining large daytime generation capacity with extensive battery storage, creating a renewable power supply designed to operate around the clock. This could also support growing electricity demand from data centers and other industries. This power supply model is also being replicated across the region, including in Egypt where the Dandara Solar Power Project is planned to supply electricity to the Egypt Aluminium Company (EgyptAlum) complex.

Masdar

World-first US$6.1 billion gigascale 24/7 clean energy project reaches financial close under Masdar

Reported July 13, 2026 – Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) has reached financial close on its landmark $6.1 billion round-the-clock renewable energy project in Abu Dhabi, securing $5.1 billion in project financing from a consortium of 13 international and regional banks for what the company says will become the world’s first giga-scale renewable energy facility capable of delivering uninterrupted clean electricity 24 hours a day.

The milestone marks one of the largest financing ever completed for an integrated solar-and-battery project. It also underscores growing investor confidence that utility-scale renewable power paired with long-duration energy storage has become commercially bankable.

World-first US$6.1 billion gigascale 24/7 clean energy project by Masdar: Overview

The project, being jointly developed by Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), combines a 5.2-gigawatt (GW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 19-gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system (BESS).

Once operational in 2027, it will provide 1 GW of continuous clean electricity around the clock. This will overcome the intermittency challenges that have traditionally limited solar generation.

Masdar solar plus battery project

Masdar’s $6 billion solar-battery project construction started in October 2025 after being unveiled during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week earlier that year. It was unveiled as a cornerstone of the UAE’s strategy to provide reliable carbon-free baseload power.

Financial close

Masdar said the financing package was provided by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, BNP Paribas, Bank of China, and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. Dubai Islamic Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, KfW IPEX-Bank, Natixis, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank and Societe Generale were also involved in the financing.

Masdar is contributing approximately $1 billion in equity toward the project’s total capital cost. The debt financing also reflects strong backing from both regional and international lenders for large-scale renewable infrastructure.

Growing global power demand

The financing milestone also comes as electricity demand accelerates worldwide due to the rapid expansion of AI hyperscale data centers. Manufacturing and industrial electrification also take a share in the increasing power demand. By combining massive solar generation with one of the world’s largest battery storage systems, the project aims to provide dispatchable renewable power that can compete with conventional baseload generation. This is while supporting grid reliability and energy security.

Masdar also said the successful financial close demonstrates that round-the-clock renewable energy projects have evolved from technical concepts into commercially viable infrastructure assets.

Masdar’s expanding global portfolio

Chief Financial Officer Mazin Khan said the financing commitment reflects international confidence in the project’s economics. The close is also seen as a nod to Masdar’s execution capabilities and long-term growth strategy. Mazin added that the company intends to continue mobilizing global institutional capital for increasingly complex renewable energy projects. These projects will be geared toward economic growth, affordability and energy security and the transition to clean power.

World-first US$6.1 billion gigascale 24/7 clean energy project in the UAE reaches financial close under Masdar

The latest milestone on the world’s first 24/7 renewable energy project in UAE also builds on Masdar’s aggressive global expansion strategy. The UAE renewable energy company now manages a diversified portfolio exceeding 65 GW. This is across solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, battery storage and hybrid renewable projects. The projects are in more than 40 countries. Masdar also has a target of reaching 100 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Over the past year, Masdar has continued to expand internationally. This is through major investments including the East Anglia THREE offshore wind project in the United Kingdom and renewable energy acquisitions across Europe. Masdar has also setup new utility-scale solar developments in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Project Fact Sheet

Project location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Total investment: US$6.1 billion

Debt financing: US$5.1 billion

Developer equity: US$1 billion

Solar capacity: 5.2GW

Battery storage capacity: 19GWh

Continuous clean power output: Up to 1GW

Construction commenced: October 2025

Expected operational date: 2027

Power purchase agreement: 30 years with EWEC

Project Team

Developer: Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC)

Development partner and electricity offtaker: Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC). EWEC is also partnering with Masdar and serving as the offtaker under a 30-year power purchase agreement.

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors:

Larsen & Toubro

POWERCHINA

Solar photovoltaic module suppliers:

Jinko Solar – supplier for 2.6GW of PV modules.

JA Solar – supplier for 2.6GW of PV modules.

Battery energy storage system supplier: CATL – supplier for the 19GWh battery storage system, using its TENER technology.

Financial structuring adviser to EWEC: PwC Middle East – advised on financial structuring.

Legal adviser to lenders: Clifford Chance – advised the lending consortium on project financing, including loan facilities, Islamic financing tranches, hedging arrangements and project agreements.

Financing consortium – 13 banks

The following institutions provided the US$5.1 billion financing package:

  1. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)
  2. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)
  3. BNP Paribas
  4. Bank of China
  5. Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
  6. Dubai Islamic Bank
  7. First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
  8. HSBC
  9. KfW IPEX-Bank
  10. Natixis
  11. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
  12. Standard Chartered Bank
  13. Société Générale

Outlook on the US$6.1 billion gigascale 24/7 clean energy project by Masdar

For the UAE, the project is a significant step toward diversifying the country’s energy mix. It will also reinforce its position as a global clean energy hub.

If delivered as planned, the Abu Dhabi facility will establish a new benchmark. This will be for integrating gigawatt-scale solar generation with battery storage to provide uninterrupted renewable electricity. It will also provide a potential blueprint for future energy systems. This will be for designs to meet growing global demand without relying on fossil fuel generation.

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