Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar has signed a landmark agreement with Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna to jointly develop up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of battery energy storage and 500 megawatts (MW) of baseload renewable energy capacity, in a move that deepens energy cooperation between the UAE and Central Asia’s largest economy.
The agreement was signed during an official visit to Kazakhstan by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and was witnessed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The pact marks a significant step forward in Kazakhstan’s clean energy ambitions and follows the ratification of a 1GW wind farm project between Masdar and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy—first announced at COP28 and ratified at COP29 in Baku last year.
Masdar, chaired by UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber, is currently developing the wind farm and a 600MWh battery storage system in Kazakhstan’s Jambyl region. Construction is expected to commence in 2026.
“This agreement builds on the already strong energy partnership between our two countries and will support Kazakhstan’s ambitious renewable energy objectives,” Al Jaber said.
Kazakhstan, rich in wind and solar resources, is targeting 15% of its electricity mix from renewables by 2030 and 50% by mid-century, in line with its carbon neutrality goal by 2060. The government hopes foreign investment from partners like Masdar will help catalyse this transition.
Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi called Kazakhstan “a key strategic partner,” noting the new agreement strengthens collaboration beyond the existing 1GW project.
Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov hailed the deal as a milestone in efforts to decarbonise Kazakhstan’s economy and develop a resilient, low-carbon energy system.
Masdar has expanded rapidly across Central Asia, with operations in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, as part of its wider aim to reach 100GW in global clean energy capacity by 2030.
At this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the company unveiled the world’s largest combined solar and battery project—a 5.2GW solar PV plant with a 19GWh storage system capable of delivering 1GW of baseload power daily.
