
The UAE has just unveiled what it describes as the “world’s first” facility capable of delivering large-scale renewable energy around the clock, Report informs via the Renewable Energy Institute.
Abu Dhabi-based clean energy company Masdar plans to integrate 5 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity with 19 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery storage to generate 1 GW of continuous clean power, according to Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Masdar and former COP President.
The announcement was made during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and is a collaborative effort with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC).
“For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency,” Dr Al Jaber said. “It has been the moon shot challenge of our time. How can we power a world that never sleeps with energy sources that do? How can we transform renewable resources into reliable power? This will, for the first time ever, transform renewable energy into baseload energy. It is a first step that could become a giant leap.”
The project, set to span 90 square kilometers in Abu Dhabi, will involve an investment of $6 billion and is slated to commence operations by 2027, according to Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Masdar’s Chief Operating Officer. “This project will follow the funding model of many others in Abu Dhabi, potentially combining equity and project finance debt.” he stated. Alobaidli also described the initiative as Masdar’s “most ambitious project to date.”