5:06 am - September 2, 2025
Emerge, the joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, has doubled its solar capacity and secured major projects across the Gulf Cooperation Council in 2024, reinforcing the region’s shift towards sustainable energy solutions.
Emerge, which is a joint venture focusing on clean energy between Masdar and France’s EDF Group, is quickly expanding its range of solar, hybrid, and battery storage projects across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This growth really underscores its importance in helping push the region toward a more sustainable energy future. Founded back in 2021 with an emphasis on distributed solar and hybrid tech, Emerge now supplies power to more than 40 commercial, industrial, educational, and hospitality facilities across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. And interestingly enough, in 2024, there’s been a noticeable boost in both the size and capacity of its projects.
In Saudi Arabia, Emerge has strengthened its position with some pretty major long-term agreements. For instance, they signed a 20-year contract to deliver solar energy to Misk City near Riyadh. That project involves a 621-kilowatt-peak photovoltaic (PV) solar plant spread across rooftops and buildings, which should make a solid contribution to the city’s energy demands. There’s also a partnership with Nahdi Medical Company — which, by the way, is the largest retail pharmacy chain in the kingdom — where they’re installing a 3 MW rooftop solar system at its Imdad Distribution Center. This one’s under a 15-year deal, and Emerge will handle financing, design, procurement, construction, and ongoing operations. The goal? To cut CO₂ emissions by over 3,000 tons annually—that’s roughly the amount used by 625 homes. Oh, and there are more projects in the pipeline, like a 3 MW solar setup for Al Tanmia Food Company’s facilities in Haradh, plus solar deployments at three commercial sites for Al Andalus Property in Riyadh and Jeddah. All of this highlights how Emerge’s footprint in the industrial sector is obviously growing.
Moving over to the UAE, it’s clear that the country remains a key market for Emerge. They’re now pushing ahead with both solar and hybrid energy initiatives. A good example is the partnership with Turbotem in Ras Al Khaimah that’s led to the installation of a 1.52 MW rooftop PV system paired with a 5 MWh battery storage unit. This combo definitely boosts energy resilience and load management. Emerge is also working with the UAE Ministry of Defense and Tabreed on integrating solar power into two district cooling plants. This involves installing roughly 4,000 solar panels, which provide about 2.4 MW of capacity. The plan is to reduce reliance on the grid and cut nearly 2,600 tons of CO₂ emissions every year—over a 25-year span. Plus, there’s the major 60 MW Sana Station solar plant in Sharjah, opened in June 2024, managed by Sharjah National Oil Corporation and the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, sitting on 850,000 square meters within the Sajaa Gas Complex.
Emerge isn’t just sticking to the residential or small commercial projects—they’re also increasing their industrial and large-scale commercial activities. Earlier in 2025, they signed an MoU with ADNOC Sour Gas to look into solar developments at the Shah Gas Field. Plus, they wrapped up an agreement with BIPTECH for rooftop solar at their KIZAD facility. Coca-Cola Ahlia Beverages in Al Ain also commissioned a 1.8 MW solar PV plant, and ADNOC Distribution is expanding its clean energy efforts by installing solar panels at service stations in Abu Dhabi, all through a multi-layered deal with Emerge.
Yas Island, a notable hub for entertainment and tourism, has seen two large solar projects from Emerge. One is a 1 MW solar car park at Yas Marina Circuit, and the other is a 520 kWp system at Yas Bay Waterfront. Both systems currently produce about 30% of their respective sites’ electricity needs and save around 425 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. These projects really show Emerge’s ability to deliver site-specific solar solutions with impact. Additionally, there’s a solar plant in development at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi, rated at 13.25 MWp. It’s expected to reduce over 14,000 tons of CO₂ annually—equivalent, I’d say, to the emissions from more than a quarter of the park’s residents.
In 2024, Emerge’s growth clearly accelerated. Their operational solar capacity tripled from 10 MW to 30 MW, and they secured contracts for an impressive 147 MW more. That’s fast progress, and it points to some serious revenue potential ahead. They’ve now solarized over 150 sites in the Middle East, including projects for Sharjah National Oil Company and Dubai Maritime City. One example: a 980 kWp rooftop system installed at Dubai Maritime City in April 2024, with over 1,700 solar modules. It’s estimated to offset about 780 tons of CO₂ each year. These projects are part of larger regional initiatives driven by parties like DP World.
And just to add, a noteworthy agreement with Etihad Rail in October 2024 saw the installation of a 600 kWp solar PV system plus a 2.56 MWh battery storage solution at the Ghuweifat terminal. The aim here is to supply up to 85% of the terminal’s power needs and cut emissions by more than 8,500 tons during the contract period. Honestly, this is a clear sign of how Emerge is expanding its capacity to combine storage tech with solar energy.
The company’s approach remains rooted in delivering turnkey solutions—from financing and design all the way through construction, operation, and maintenance—which they offer to a broad range of commercial, industrial, and institutional clients across the GCC. This strategy tightly aligns with regional clean energy targets and climate commitments, like the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, both focusing heavily on reducing carbon footprints and boosting renewable generation.
Their partnerships aren’t limited to private companies either—they’re working closely with governments, too. For example, in 2024, Emerge signed an agreement with the UAE Ministry of Defence to build several solar plants across Abu Dhabi. These projects are key for integrating renewables into government infrastructure and supporting overall sustainability efforts.
As energy diversification and environmental sustainability remain priorities in the GCC, Emerge’s growing footprint really shows how specialized distributed solar and hybrid solutions can contribute to these national agendas. By expanding its project portfolio and adopting advanced storage technologies, the company is positioning itself well to meet rising regional demand for clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
All in all, Emerge’s latest moves highlight how quickly the Gulf’s clean energy scene is evolving—driven by innovative partnerships and smart tech deployment—marking a promising road ahead for the region’s shift away from fossil fuels toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Source: Noah Wire Services
