• Masdar has secured financial close for a $6.1 billion solar and battery project designed to supply continuous clean electricity.
• A consortium of 13 local and international banks provided $5.1 billion in financing, while Masdar committed $1 billion in equity.
• The 5.2GW solar plant and 19GWh battery system will deliver 1GW of round-the-clock power from 2027.

Masdar has reached financial close on a $6.1 billion renewable energy project designed to deliver clean electricity around the clock.

The project combines 5.2GW of solar photovoltaic capacity with a 19GWh battery energy storage system. Together, the assets will supply 1GW of continuous power to the Abu Dhabi electricity network.

Masdar is developing the project with Emirates Water and Electricity Company, or EWEC. Construction began in October 2025, with commercial operations expected in 2027.

Banks Back Gigascale Clean Energy

A group of 13 local and international banks provided a $5.1 billion financing package. Masdar will contribute the remaining $1 billion in equity.

The lending consortium includes Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, BNP Paribas, Bank of China and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.

Dubai Islamic Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, KfW IPEX-Bank and Natixis also participated. The group further includes Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank and Societe Generale.

The scale of the financing carries wider implications for the clean energy market. Renewable projects that combine generation and storage require large upfront investments. They must also demonstrate that they can supply power reliably when sunlight or wind conditions change.

Support from a broad banking group indicates growing lender appetite for infrastructure that can overcome those intermittency risks.

“We are pleased to have secured funding from such a broad and highly respected group of local and international banks in support of this pioneering project,” said Mazin Khan, Chief Financial Officer at Masdar. “This significant financing commitment demonstrates the confidence of the international banking community not only in a landmark project but also in Masdar’s financial strength, disciplined execution and long-term growth strategy. This milestone further demonstrates our ability to mobilize global capital at scale while delivering innovative renewable infrastructure that supports long-term economic growth and energy security. We now look forward to advancing the project to deliver reliable, affordable, clean energy around the clock.”

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Storage Targets Baseload Reliability

Solar and wind projects have traditionally depended on grid balancing, flexible generation or shorter-duration storage. Masdar’s project is designed to operate differently.

Its battery system will store electricity generated during periods of strong solar output. That energy can then be dispatched after sunset or when demand rises.

The configuration is intended to provide the reliability normally associated with baseload power plants. It could also establish a financing and operational model for markets seeking firm clean electricity at utility scale.

That need is becoming more urgent. Electricity demand is rising as countries expand data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. These sectors require steady power supplies and cannot depend only on variable generation.

For governments and utilities, the project offers a potential route to meeting new demand without relying entirely on additional fossil fuel capacity. For lenders, it provides a test of whether gigascale storage-backed renewables can deliver predictable long-term returns.

UAE Links Clean Power to Economic Growth

The project forms part of the UAE’s broader clean energy and economic diversification strategy. It will support domestic energy security while expanding Abu Dhabi’s capacity to serve electricity-intensive industries.

The development also reflects a shift in climate infrastructure policy. Governments are no longer focused only on adding renewable capacity. They increasingly need projects that can provide dependable power, strengthen grids and support industrial growth.

Masdar has built a renewable energy portfolio exceeding 65GW across solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, battery storage and hybrid systems. The company is targeting 100GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

Reaching that target will require further access to institutional capital, government partnerships and long-term power purchasing arrangements.

The Abu Dhabi project may therefore have significance beyond the UAE. Its financial structure and technical design could inform future projects in regions facing rapid electricity demand growth.

For executives and investors, the central question is whether large-scale solar and storage can compete as reliable infrastructure rather than supplementary generation. Masdar’s $6.1 billion financing package brings that model closer to commercial reality.