Masdar Secures $5.1 Billion for World’s Largest Solar-and-Battery Project

Masdar has reached financial close on a $5.1 billion financing package for a $6.1 billion gigascale solar-and-battery project in Abu Dhabi, bringing the world's first round‑the‑clock renewable energy development closer to its planned 2027 start-up. The UAE renewable energy company will contribute $1 billion of equity to the project, which is being developed in partnership with Emirates Water and Electricity Company and financed by a consortium of 13 international and local banks.

"The financing package demonstrates strong market confidence in both the project’s commercial viability and Masdar’s ability to deliver complex energy infrastructure at scale," the company said.

Project design and financing partners

The development will combine a 5.2‑gigawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 19‑gigawatt‑hour battery energy storage system (BESS), intended to provide continuous, 24/7 renewable power. Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company broke ground on the project in October 2025 and expect it to be operational in 2027.

• Total capital cost: $6.1 billion
• Masdar equity: $1.0 billion
• Debt financing secured: $5.1 billion
• Solar PV capacity: 5.2 GW
• Battery storage capacity: 19 GWh
• Consortium size: 13 international and local banks

The financing group includes Abu Dhabi lenders alongside institutions from China, Hong Kong, Japan and France. Named participants in the package include BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Standard Chartered Bank. Masdar called the mix of lenders evidence that international banks are willing to back "the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind in the world."

"Integrating RTC is the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind in the world," Masdar said, referring to the round‑the‑clock (RTC) integration of utility‑scale solar with long‑duration battery storage to deliver continuous clean power output regardless of daylight hours.

Context and technical significance

The scale of both the PV and storage components places the project among the largest single renewable energy investments globally. By pairing 5.2 GW of solar with 19 GWh of storage, developers aim to shift dispatchable renewable generation from a daytime‑only resource to a baseload‑like service. The size of the battery element suggests multiple hours—potentially tens of hours—of firmed output, a critical attribute for replacing thermal plants and meeting grid reliability needs after sunset.

Masdar’s decision to underwrite $1 billion of equity alongside major international banks signals a blended capital structure intended to de‑risk technology and delivery risks for lenders. The consortium financing model also spreads exposure across regional and global institutions, facilitating the mobilization of large ticket sizes required for gigascale projects.

Outlook

With financial close achieved and construction already underway since October 2025, Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company are targeting a 2027 commercial start. If the project meets its timeline and performance targets, it will mark a significant milestone in utility‑scale, 24/7 renewable generation and could set a template for future gigascale pairings of solar PV and long‑duration storage across the region and beyond.