Masdar, the United Arab Emirates’ clean energy provider, has unveiled its preferred suppliers and contractors for a solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage gigascale project in Abu Dhabi that will provide round-the-clock renewable energy.
In an announcement during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2024, Masdar named JA Solar and Jinko Solar as preferred PV module suppliers and CATL as the battery manufacturer for the groundbreaking venture.
Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA have been selected as preferred engineering procurement and construction contractors.
The project will generate one gigawatt of baseload power continuously.
During a ceremony at ADSW, Abdulaziz Alobaidli, chief operating officer at Masdar, signed letters of award with representatives from the EPC contractors.
HDEC International’s president Yu Feng signed on behalf of POWERCHINA, with POWERCHINA MENA [Middle East and North Africa] headquarters vice-president Gao Fei.
A Ravindran, senior vice-president and head of renewables IC [the incremental output in any compliance year over the historical generation baseline] signed for Larsen & Toubro alongside T Madhavadas, director and senior executive vice-president of utilities.
The proposed gigascale project will feature a 5.2GW direct current solar PV plant paired with a 19 gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS).
Jinko Solar and JA Solar will each supply PV modules with a capacity of 2.6GW, employing advanced TopCon technology to ensure optimal efficiency over a 30-year lifespan.
CATL will provide its TENER technology for the entire 19GWh BESS capacity.
Masdar chief operating officer Abdulaziz Alobaidli stated: “The record-breaking project we are developing with EWEC is a giant step forward in the clean energy transformation, overcoming the intermittency challenges of renewables and enabling the dispatch of clean energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“As Masdar’s largest and most ambitious project to date, we made sure we are working with the best possible partners that will deliver to the highest standards. I look forward to working with these preferred suppliers in setting a new global benchmark in clean energy innovation.”
The 19GWh battery storage will facilitate the smooth incorporation of solar energy into the power grid.
The project aligns with the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 and will significantly contribute to the country's leadership in sustainable energy solutions following the UAE Consensus at COP28.
In early January 2025. Masdar announced its entry into the Philippines renewables market, with agreements to develop 1GW of clean energy projects.
