Newsroom

• Masdar signs three investment agreements for two solar projects and one onshore wind project with combined capacity of 1GW, supporting Azerbaijan’s 2030 clean energy ambitions

• Garadagh inauguration attended by HE Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate, and Chairman of Masdar

• HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber calls on all nations to follow Azerbaijan in setting clear energy transition plans to deliver a COP of action, a COP of solidarity, a COP for all

• Garadagh is Masdar’s first renewable energy project in Azerbaijan as the company expands its footprint across Caucasus and Central Asia

Baku; October 26, 2023: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, has signed agreements for solar and onshore wind projects with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) in Azerbaijan, following the inauguration of the region’s largest operational solar plant, the 230MW Garadagh Solar Park. 

The strategic agreements cover the progression of the first phase of a 10GW pipeline of renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan signed in June 2022. This follows the successful development of Garadagh, Azerbaijan’s first foreign investment-based independent solar power project, and the largest solar plant in the region. 

The inauguration of Garadagh was overseen by HE Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate, and Chairman of Masdar. 

The 1GW clean energy agreements were signed by Masdar Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Azerbaijan Minister of Energy, HE Parviz Shahbazov and Azerbaijan Minister of the Economy, HE Mikayil Jabbarov.

Also in attendance at the inauguration were HE Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy; HE Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment and Deputy Chairman of Masdar; HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State; HE Mohammed Murad Al Blooshi, UAE Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and HE Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and HE Elchin Bagirov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to the UAE attended.

HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate and Chairman of Masdar, said:

Speaking at the inauguration event, Dr Sultan Al Jaber also commended His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev and the nation of Azerbaijan for its commitment to a defined, strategic plan of action to develop new industries, new jobs and green economic growth. 

In his speech HE Dr Sultan said:

• With just 34 days to COP28, Garadagh illustrates the practical action needed to turn the goals of the Paris Agreement into tangible reality.

• Paris unified the world around a common goal, but since then, we have not seen enough action to close a massive emissions gap.

• While investment in renewable energy continues to grow, with a record 500GW added globally this year, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to keep 1.5 within reach.

It is critical to bring everybody to the table to be part of the solution. This is the spirit of inclusivity needed at COP28, bringing the world together to focus on solutions and results.

HE Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijan Minister of Energy, commented:

The Garadagh plant which represents Masdar’s first project in the country, will generate half a billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power more than 110,000 homes, reducing carbon emissions by over 200,000 tonnes a year. The project is co-financed by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar said:

As the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse and one of the leading clean energy companies in the world, Masdar is accelerating the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges.

Established in 2006, Masdar is active in more than 40 countries with a total electricity generation capacity of more than 20GW. It has invested, or committed to invest, in worldwide projects with a combined value of more than US$30 billion with ambitious growth plans to reach 100GW and 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. 

Through Masdar, the UAE has successfully launched the first of three solar projects under the US$50 million Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund

It is 1974 and diesel-powered electricity has finally arrived on Union Island, a picturesque remote island about an hour’s flight on a small twin-engine plane from Saint Vincent, the capital city of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean. 

For Edwin Snagg, then just a boy who had moved to Union Island with his family in 1969 from neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago when his grandfather retired, it meant he no longer had the dreaded job of cleaning the two kerosene lamps his family used to light their home.
“My biggest problem was moving to a new country that did not have electricity,” he said. “And I hated it with a passion when my grandfather said I had to clean the kerosene lampshades, which were covered in black soot.”

A welcome addition to the island 45 years ago, the diesel-powered Union Island Power Station also had its drawbacks. The diesel engines were constantly noisy, while the air pollution they created hung heavily over the small valley surrounding the plant near the island’s main town of Clifton, leaving residents to deal with black soot covering everything from clothes to curtains and the walls inside their homes, as well as causing allergies.

Now the Director of Grenadines Affairs and a community leader on Union Island, Mr Snagg was speaking at the recent inauguration of the island’s first large-scale solar PV battery plant.  The plant was developed by the UAE, as part of a partnership between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC), Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the leading national entity for international development aid, and Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and supplies the island with enough clean energy to run entirely on renewables throughout the day. 

“This project has so many implications. Have you noticed the schoolchildren here this afternoon? I personally invited these students here because this solar system is about the future; this is a new generation,” he said to applause.

The Union Island 600kW Solar PV Battery Hybrid Power Plant was developed by Masdar under the US$50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (CREF), the largest renewable energy initiative of its kind in the Caribbean region. 

“Both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the UAE share a mutual understanding and vision of the role renewable energy plays in accelerating economic growth and bringing tangible benefits to local communities,” HE Bader Almatrooshi, UAE Ambassador to Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, and Representative to the Association of Caribbean States, told guests at the Union Island inauguration.

“This Masdar-led project contributes significantly to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ ambitious goal to generate 60 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and helps to bring its sustainable energy future within reach,” Ambassador Almatrooshi added. 

“While this landmark solar energy project has ushered in new and clean energy supplies to meet Union Island’s growing energy needs sustainably, it has also created jobs, reduced energy costs and reliance on expensive diesel fuels, as well as boosting the island’s climate resilience and stimulating the economy.”

The 637 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery stores the excess electricity produced by the plant, extending its generating capacity to supply 100 per cent of Union Island’s daytime power requirements. The hybrid plant, which provides energy to 1,242 customers, was developed in partnership with St Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC). Thanks to Masdar’s team of technical experts, the plant is designed to withstand up to 160mph winds and extreme weather conditions. The plant also displaces an estimated 320,000 litres of diesel fuel per year, saving the island nearly US$500,000 and offsetting 825 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

“This is a step in the right direction,” said Felix McKie, who moved to Union Island in 1971 and raised his family in his home just 100 metres from the plant. “I hope that eventually they will be able to implement full solar power and move out of diesel because we have suffered tremendously with the soot and the noise. 

“But it is fantastic knowing that Union Island is leading the way in renewable energy for remote islands – and we are looking forward to the peace and quiet during the day.”
Also speaking at the inauguration was Dr. The Hon. Ralph E Gonsalves, the Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who said: “Generating electricity here costs 40 per cent or so more than on the main island, which means that the rest of the country has to subsidise Union Island.

“But this initiative with the United Arab Emirates to develop the solar PV system is making Union Island almost completely green, it translates to tremendous savings of US$500,000 in imported diesel. The UAE is an important partner for us in renewables and without this kind of grant funding, it is very difficult to build the infrastructure to make it economical.”

For Adelaide Allen, another Union Island resident attending the inauguration, the launch of the solar energy plant was a day to celebrate. The 85 year old, who still lives in the house she was born in, has experienced all three types of “energy” on Union Island, from kerosene lamps to diesel-powered electricity and now renewable energy.

“The noise that the power plant made! Every day I would complain to myself and ask when will this stop? I would have to close all my windows and doors because the smell and the noise was so bad,” she said. “But I hope things will improve. So now that it’s stopped, I brought my Saint Vincents’ flag with me today to celebrate. I feel great now thanks to your company [Masdar].”

Launched at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2017, the aim of UAE-CREF is to deploy renewable energy projects in 16 Caribbean countries in three cycles to help reduce reliance on fossil-fuel imports, increase energy access, and enhance climate change resilience as part of the UAE’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The first three projects in cycle one were inaugurated in March 2019. As well as Union Island, they included a 925kW solar PV carport in the Bahamas and a 350kW solar PV carport and 500kW solar PV plant in Barbados, where there is also a heavy reliance on oil and diesel imports to fuel power plants.

All three projects deliver a combined total of 2.35MW of solar and 637kWh of battery storage capacity, and displace more than 2.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Together, they also achieve diesel savings of more than 895,000 litres per year, or about US$1.1 million.

In January 2018, UAE-CREF announced that the second funding cycle will include Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Belize, Haiti, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts & Nevis, Guyana, and Grenada, while the cycle three countries, announced in January 2019, will include Jamaica, Cuba, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2), the solar-powered plane attempting to become the first aircraft in the world to circumnavigate the Earth without using a drop of fossil fuel, will complete its epic journey in the early hours of Tuesday morning, returning to the city where its adventure began in March last year.

The iconic aircraft’s arrival in the UAE capital will mark the triumphant conclusion of a voyage that has taken in sixteen stops around the world, including a number of countries where the investment of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar is already pushing the boundaries of clean technology, extending access to sustainable energy and reducing carbon emissions. Masdar is the official host partner of Solar Impulse 2.

Solar Impulse Initiator and Chairman Bertrand Piccard is piloting Si2 on the last leg of its round-the-world trip from Cairo, bringing full circle an adventure that began when André Borschberg, CEO and Co-Founder, departed Abu Dhabi in March 2015. Both men have taken the controls of the aircraft during its pioneering flight.

Anticipation is building across the UAE, with a welcoming committee of UAE and international dignitaries expected to receive Solar Impulse 2 at around 04:00 Tuesday morning, at Al Bateen Executive Airport.

“To have flown more than 40,000 kilometres powered only by the sun shows that solar energy has truly arrived as a viable technology, and has significant potential for wider development,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Masdar. “Solar Impulse 2’s arrival in Abu Dhabi will be an emotional moment for the Solar Impulse team and a proud occasion for the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Our shared commitment to the realisation of a more sustainable future will inspire continued innovation in clean technology and renewable energy long after the Si2’s final flight.”

“Solar Impulse will stand forever as a tribute to human ingenuity and our capacity to work together to solve common challenges,” Al Ramahi said.

Over its entire mission, Solar Impulse 2 has completed more than 500 flight hours, cruising at altitudes of up to 9,000 metres and at an average speed of between 45km/h and 90km/h.

A total of 19 world records have been set, or are still pending with the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). These include André Borschberg’s feat of flying for five consecutive days and nights over the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Hawaii, the longest flight duration achieved by any type of aircraft flying solo, and Betrand Piccard’s historic crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, the first by a solar-powered airplane.

Solar Impulse Initiator, Chairman and Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard said: “Solar Impulse has demonstrated that modern clean technologies can achieve things that were considered impossible a few years ago. Our mission now is to continue to motivate people, corporations and governments to use these same solutions on the ground wherever they make sense – for mobility, construction, lighting, heating, cooling and other uses – to improve the quality of life on Earth.”

Solar Impulse CEO, Co-Founder and fellow pilot André Borschberg said: “By flying around the world thanks to renewable energy and clean technologies, we have demonstrated that we can now make our world more energy efficient. It’s not a question of whether it’s possible; it’s only a question of implementation. Solar Impulse is like a flying smart grid: producing, storing and distributing energy in an efficient way. If we can make it work on an airplane, we can make it work in our cities and communities.”

Hasan Al Redaini, the UAE representative escorting Solar Impulse 2 on its round-the-world trip, added: “Abu Dhabi has been a natural partner of the Solar Impulse project, which has captured the imagination of millions people and shed new light on renewable energy as a viable technology.”

Si 2 began its epic journey from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, with sixteen stopovers along the way in Oman, India, Myanmar, China, Japan, the United States, Spain and Egypt.

The Masdar Solar Hub will serve as a platform to test solar energy systems and deliver new innovative technologies to market

Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 22, 2015 – Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s pioneering renewable energy company, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, today announced plans to launch the Masdar Solar Hub to expedite the development of solar technologies. The new hub aims to support Abu Dhabi’s efforts to achieve its ambitions for solar energy development and deployment through research and demonstration of cutting-edge solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and thermal energy storage technologies.

“Collaborations are essential for a thriving innovation ecosystem, as they facilitate dialogue between industry leaders and government, and support the development of novel, game-changing technologies,” said Dr Ahmad Belhoul, CEO of Masdar. “The Masdar Solar Hub is expected to become a successful catalyst for solar energy development in Abu Dhabi and across the region while training human resources for Abu Dhabi’s energy sector.”

The aim of the Masdar Solar Hub, the first independent solar testing and R&D facility in the UAE, is to build a high-performance testing infrastructure in the region, providing the foundation for new product development, co-operation with local and international companies and the creation of new solar companies in Abu Dhabi.

The hub will provide unbiased research, development, testing, evaluation and certification of solar technologies and systems, as well as consulting and information services, leading to the practical and widespread implementation of solar energy solutions across Abu Dhabi.

“The Masdar Solar Hub will enable researchers to engage in significant development and testing to create efficient solar technologies that can operate at maximum capacity in the region’s unfavourable climactic conditions,” said Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute.

“Directly in line with the UAE National Innovation Strategy, this initiative reinforces Masdar Institute’s capacity to advance research in support of Abu Dhabi’s mandate to provide 7 per cent of its power generation capacity with renewable energy technologies by 2020 and contribute to a more sustainable future,” he added.

Solar energy has received increased interest globally following strengthened focus amongst international entities and recent examples of its growing cost-competitiveness. The price of electricity from solar power has declined by 75 per cent over the past seven years and this year global solar photovoltaic capacity alone is expected to grow by 25 per cent.

Despite solar power’s increasing cost competitiveness and efficiency, Masdar Institute’s Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment has shown from satellite data alone that Abu Dhabi receives significantly less direct sunlight than expected and this is due to high levels of atmospheric dust and humidity. The Masdar Solar Hub will allow Masdar Institute, Masdar and leading organisations in solar power to advance demonstration-scale solar technology assessment in the region’s hot, dust-filled environment.

Solar Impulse representatives have arrived in Abu Dhabi to meet with local authorities in beginning preparation for the plane’s arrival in January. With the historic flight scheduled to take off from Abu Dhabi next March, pilots of the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) will conduct test flights and perform fine-tuning exercises this January, in preparation for the five month journey. The plane, and its two co-founders, will attempt to fly around the world – without a drop of fuel – only using the power of the sun.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is an official host partner of Si2 and Abu Dhabi will be the location of the plane’s departure and arrival.

“It’s fitting that we’re departing from Abu Dhabi,” said Bertrand Piccard, chairman, initiator and pilot of Si2, “as the emirate is a true energy leader committed to realizing a cleaner tomorrow. Through initiatives like Masdar, Abu Dhabi is demonstrating a real commitment to diversifying the global energy mix with clean, reliable renewable energy.”

Preparations are well under way for the planes arrival in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the five-month round-the-world flight.

“With less than 6 months until departure, we can feel the pressure. The plane must be tested and the entire flight path, including all landing permissions, organized,” explains André Borschberg, co-founder and pilot of Si2. “We couldn’t have wished for a better host city in Abu Dhabi, given its location, state of the art facilities and the fantastic support we’ve received so far.”

The announcement of Abu Dhabi as the host city and Masdar’s partnership with Si2 was made during the UN Climate Summit last month in New York.

“The departure of Solar Impulse – and its journey around the world – is a historic event and Abu Dhabi will be part of it,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chairman of Masdar. “In fact, Solar Impulse and Masdar share a common message that renewable energy is a viable solution to power growing societies and lead the world toward a sustainable future.”

Si2 will be assembled in Abu Dhabi at a specially designated location where safety tests and training will also be undertaken. The plane will be showcased during the World Future Energy Summit, as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, January 17-24, when the public will have the opportunity to view the plane and meet the pilots.

“As a previous guest and speaker during the World Future Energy Summit,” said Piccard, “I’ve seen first-hand Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing clean technology, creating social opportunity and extending its energy leadership through the acceleration of wind and solar power. Abu Dhabi is truly the ideal location for our safe departure, and hopefully, arrival.”

The round-the-world flight will take approximately five months, with stops expected in Asia, the United States, Southern Europe or North Africa, before returning to Abu Dhabi in July 2015.

​Today, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi officially inaugurated Shams 1, the largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in operation in the world. Located in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, the 100-megawatt, grid connected power plant will generate clean energy to power 20,000 homes in the UAE.  

His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his pride in the inauguration of Shams 1, calling it a major achievement in the UAE’s goal of energy and economic diversification. 

“Expanding our leadership into renewable sources of power demonstrates the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to maintaining its position as a major provider of energy,” said His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major milestone in our country’s economic diversification and a step toward long-term energy security. 

“We are proud of the young Emiratis that worked on this project,” said His Highness. “The expertise they gained, working closely with international companies and building a project of such scale, is the type of human capital development that will enable our country to secure long-term energy leadership.

“Shams 1 is a strategic investment in our country’s economic, social and environmental prosperity,” added His Highness. “The domestic production of renewable energy extends the life of our country’s valuable hydrocarbon resources and supports the growth of a promising new industry.”  

The ceremony was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as other members of the UAE leadership.

Holding nearly half of the world’s renewable energy potential, the Middle East and North Africa is poised for unprecedented growth in renewable energy.

“The inauguration of Shams 1 is a breakthrough for renewable energy development in the Middle East,” said His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. “With the demand for energy rising exponentially, the region is undergoing a major transformation in how it generates electricity. In fact, the Middle East is poised for major investments in renewables, and Shams 1 proves the economic and environmental advantage of deploying large-scale solar projects.”

“Our wise leadership recognizes the immediate and future benefits of renewable energy,” added Dr. Al Jaber. “Investments in sophisticated projects like Shams 1train our future energy leaders, create specialized jobs and encourage economic development. Renewable energy is fundamental to achieving a diversified energy mix and extending the life of our precious hydrocarbon resources. Clean energy, is aligned with the legacy of conservation instilled in us by our founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

Shams 1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar (60 percent), Total (20 percent) and Abengoa Solar (20 percent).With the addition of Shams 1, Masdar’s renewable energy portfolio accounts for almost 68 percent of the Gulf’s renewable energy capacity and close to 10% percent of the world’s installed CSP capacity.

“Abu Dhabi is investing and incubating a new energy industry,” added Dr. Al Jaber. “Through Masdar, we are redefining the role our country will play in delivering energy to the world. From precious hydrocarbons exports to commercially viable renewable energy projects, we are extending our legacy for future generations.”

The innovative CSP project reduces the UAE’s carbon emissions, displacing approximately 175,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, an equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees, or taking 15,000 cars off the road. With solar power generated during peak demand, the UAE can reduce its need for “peak shaving” generators, which are expensive and idle most of the year.

"As a long-lasting partner of Abu Dhabi, we are particularly proud to have been part of the challenging adventure that was Shams 1 construction. This is a major step in the process of transforming the capabilities of solar power in the region,” said Christophe de Margerie, chairman and CEO of Total. “We share Abu Dhabi’s vision that renewables have a promising future alongside fossil energies. Total is today a world leader in solar industry. As such, we are pleased to accompany the Emirate in the diversification of its energy mix.”

Covering an area of 2.5 km² – or 285 football fields – Shams 1 incorporates the latest in parabolic trough technology and features more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors. By concentrating heat from direct sunlight onto oil-filled pipes, Shams 1 produces steam, which drives a turbine and generates electricity. The project uses a booster heater to heat steam as it enters the turbine, dramatically boosting the cycle’s efficiency. Shams 1 also features a dry-cooling system that significantly reduces water consumption – a critical advantage in the arid desert.

“The Middle East holds nearly half of the world’s renewable energy potential,” said Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar. “The abundance of solar energy is an opportunity to integrate sustainable, clean sources of power that address energy security and climate change. The region needs more projects like Shams 1, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of future energy.” 

A source of great pride, the Western Region of Abu Dhabi is the centre of the country’s hydrocarbon industry and represents the roots of its Bedouin heritage. Today, with the addition of Shams 1, the region is evolving. Alongside oil fields, renewable energy and peaceful nuclear power is being developed to support the country’s long-term energy requirements.

The visitors were briefed on the technical features and specifications of the catamaran that runs solely on solar panels. 

Accompanied by its Captain and Master, Erwann Le Rouzic, PlanetSolar is the world’s largest solar powered boat and was docked in Abu Dhabi for the duration of the summit.

The US$26 million, 101-foot long ship departed Monaco in September 2010 on a voyage around the globe, which has included stops at the Panama Canal, the Philippines, Australia and Hong Kong. The boat, which features 5,380 square feet of solar paneling, reached Abu Dhabi on 14/15th January and departed on 21 January to visit Dubai from the 22-26 January. 

PlanetSolar aims to promote the use of renewable energy and, when complete, will become the first ever boat to circumnavigate the world using only solar power.

According to the United Nations, the shipping industry alone is responsible for 4.5 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.