Emirates Water and Electricity Company announced an uninterrupted solar battery power project on January 14, 2025, representing a step-change. This because it will be the world’s first large-scale ‘round the clock’ gigascale project, combining solar power battery storage in Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made in the presence of the UAE President, and so has approval at the highest level.
About Abu Dhabi’s Uninterrupted Solar Battery Power Project
Emirates News Agency, WAM, carried the story forward on the day of the official announcement. They confirmed the following, “reaffirming UAE’s position as a global pioneer in renewable energy deployment”:
- Renewable solar energy available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Delivering up to 1 gigawatt of renewable base load energy every day.
- Largest combined solar and battery energy storage system in the world.
The BESS system, located in Abu Dhabi, will feature a 5.2GW DC solar photovoltaic plant. This will combine forces with a 19 gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system, thereby “setting a global benchmark in clean energy innovation”.
The Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology explained how the biggest renewable energy barrier, has been its intermittency. In other words, our inability to source green energy throughout the day and night.
Accepting the ‘Moonshot Challenge’ of Our Generation
“This has been the moonshot challenge of our time,” the minister continued. “But now, thanks to the resolute support of the President, with this groundbreaking project we have found the solution.
“We will develop a renewable energy facility capable of providing clean energy round the clock. For the first time ever, this will transform renewable energy into a world-leading 1GW of reliable base load energy, every day on an unprecedented scale. This is a first step, that could become a giant leap for the world.”
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