BYD has signed a landmark agreement with UAE energy firm Masdar to deliver 11.275 GWh of grid-scale battery storage for Abu Dhabi’s Round The Clock project. This deal, one of the largest of its kind, highlights the growing influence of Chinese battery manufacturers in global utility infrastructure.
BYD’s Grid Storage Deal with Masdar
BYD has finalized a contract with Masdar to supply 11.275 GWh of specialized battery storage hardware for the Round The Clock project in Abu Dhabi. The storage volume is equivalent to what would be used in more than 186,000 electric vehicles, underscoring the scale of the deployment.
The batteries will support a 5.2 GW solar array, enabling the site to deliver continuous, 24-hour clean energy. This project is part of a broader trend where Chinese battery firms are increasingly chosen for major international energy storage contracts.
Technical Details: BYD Haohan System
The installation will use BYD’s proprietary Haohan system, which features a dedicated 2710Ah cell design derived from its passenger vehicle technology. Each cell offers over 300% more capacity than previous setups, reducing the number of mechanical connections and simplifying the battery management system by 70% to 80%.
A single 20-foot container can house 10 MWh of storage, minimizing the physical footprint required for such large-scale energy storage.
Competitor Comparison
Sungrow, another Chinese supplier, secured a 7.5 GWh contract for the initial phase of the same Abu Dhabi project. Together, BYD and Sungrow have supplied the entire 19 GWh storage requirement, leaving no room for global competitors in this initiative.
This project also places BYD in direct competition with CATL, which has introduced its Tener storage system for similar large-scale utility projects worldwide.
Historical Context
BYD’s expansion into grid-scale storage follows a period of rapid growth in its core automotive business. In 2024, BYD sold 4.3 million vehicles globally, a 41.3% increase year-on-year, and became the global sales champion in new energy vehicles, surpassing Tesla.
This diversification into utility-scale battery storage demonstrates BYD’s strategy to leverage its manufacturing scale and technology across multiple sectors.
Why this matters
The Abu Dhabi contract is one of the largest single-station battery storage procurements ever, signaling a shift in how utility grids are stabilized using advanced battery technology. BYD’s ability to deliver such scale highlights the growing reliance on Chinese hardware for major clean energy projects in the Middle East and beyond.
By integrating automotive battery technology into grid storage, BYD is driving down costs and increasing efficiency, which could accelerate the adoption of renewable energy worldwide.
What this means for buyers
For energy sector stakeholders, BYD’s contract with Masdar demonstrates the company’s capability to deliver large-scale, cost-effective battery storage solutions. Buyers considering utility-scale storage projects may find increased competition and innovation among Chinese suppliers, potentially leading to lower costs and improved technology.
Those interested in the broader energy transition should watch for further deployments of BYD’s Haohan system and similar offerings from competitors like Sungrow and CATL, as these will shape the future of grid reliability and renewable integration.
Related coverage from The Electric Viking
For more on BYD’s global expansion and battery technology, see BYD Surpasses Tesla in Global NEV Sales and How Chinese Battery Giants Are Reshaping the Grid.
Key Specs
- Contract Size: 11.275 GWh
- Equivalent EV Packs: 186,000 units
- Project Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Solar Array Supported: 5.2 GW
- Total Storage for Project: 19 GWh
- Cell Type: BYD Haohan 2710Ah
- Container Storage Capacity: 10 MWh per 20-foot container
- Target Manufacturing Cost: $0 (~AUD 0) per Wh
Source
Images sourced from: carnewschina.com, biggo.com, esgnews.com
