The ambitious energy transition plans of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took a big step forward with contracts awarded for one of the world's largest battery energy storage system (BESS) pro...
The United Arab Emirates has advanced its ambitious plans for shifting to cleaner forms of energy by signing agreements for what ranks among the globe's biggest battery energy storage system initiatives.
The United Arab Emirates has made significant progress in its energy transition efforts through the selection of contractors for one of the largest battery energy storage system developments worldwide. China's BYD Energy Storage was chosen by the state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, known as Masdar, together with Emirates Water and Electricity Company, or EWEC, to provide a single Haohan BESS installation sized at 1,644 megawatts (MW) and 11,275 gigawatt hours (GWh) as part of its round-the-clock renewable energy initiative located in Abu Dhabi. This RTC scheme combines a 5.2-gigawatt solar installation with a 19-GWh battery energy storage system and aims to overcome challenges related to the variable output of renewable sources. Masdar indicated that the RTC setup would provide 1 GW of steady, baseload electricity supply at a competitive price point. Data from Industrial Info Resources shows three major BESS developments underway in the UAE representing close to US$6.3 billion in total investment, of which the RTC initiative represents over US$6 billion by itself. Construction on the RTC project began last October, and full completion is anticipated for 2027.
Masdar has announced that financial closing for the venture has been finalized. The firm will contribute US$1 billion of its own funds while a group of 13 banks from both international and domestic sources will provide the other US$5.1 billion. Mazin Khan, chief financial officer at Masdar, said: "We now look forward to advancing the project to deliver reliable, affordable, clean energy around the clock."
BYD noted that its Haohan technology incorporates the 2,710 Ah Blade Battery, which the company maintains improves energy density while making battery oversight easier. The installation is built to function effectively in arid environments, featuring an IP66-rated protective casing and the ability to operate across temperatures from -30°C to 55°C. According to BYD, the Haohan unit, offering 14.568 MWh in storage per module, represents the largest integrated BESS unit currently available anywhere. "Once operational, the project will produce gigascale baseload energy at a globally competitive rate for the first time, setting a new international benchmark and reaffirming the UAE's position in renewable energy development," stated BYD. "The project will act as a blueprint that can be replicated internationally to meet the growing demand for clean, secure, round-the-clock power." In an earlier agreement this year, Masdar engaged another Chinese provider, Sungrow, which specializes in solar inverters and BESS solutions, to deliver 7.5 GWh worth of its PowerTitan 3.0 storage equipment for the RTC effort in addition to 2.6 GW of photovoltaic inverters supporting the solar component.
The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to triple the share of renewable sources within the nation's overall energy supply in order to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan targets having renewables make up 50% of the energy mix while reducing emissions by 70%. The nation intends to direct around US$54 billion toward developing clean and alternative energy facilities. Natural gas and nuclear power are anticipated to remain important contributors for providing steady baseload electricity. According to GlobalData projections released earlier this year, the UAE's installed solar photovoltaic capacity is expected to increase sharply from 6.7 GW in 2025 to 32.3 GW by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate exceeding 17% over that timeframe.
Originally reported by Industrial Info Resources on Jul 17, 2026.
