Masdar and Endesa Start Construction on 60.16 MW Battery Storage Portfolio in Spain

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC, also known as Masdar, and Endesa have begun construction on three battery energy storage projects in Spain, set to add 60.16 megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity and 120.34 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage to existing solar plants in Extremadura and Andalusia.

The combined investment across the portfolio totals USD 28.34 million, and the three projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2027.

The Three Sites and Their Specifications

The portfolio consists of Ardila, at the 44 MWp solar plants in Fregenal de la Sierra in Badajoz, and La Vega I and La Vega II, at two solar plants in Teba in Málaga.

Ardila will provide 36.10 MW (72.20 MWh) of storage across 12 battery containers, enough to store the equivalent of the daily electricity consumption of around 8,100 Spanish households.

La Vega I and La Vega II will each provide 12.03 MW (24.07 MWh) across four battery containers per site, together equivalent to the daily consumption of around 5,400 households.

The three systems will hybridize the existing solar plants, storing part of the electricity the plants generate and thereby helping to integrate more renewable energy into the grid and make the electricity system more flexible.

Grid-Forming Technology for System Stability

All three systems will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries with grid-forming inverters.

According to the companies, this technology provides synthetic inertia, mimicking the behavior of a conventional thermal or hydro generating unit, and responds almost instantly to sudden changes in grid conditions, supporting the stability of the electricity system.

Research and technical validation will be carried out with CIRCE and the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) at Comillas Pontifical University, including on-site tests and studies of grid-forming operation.

First Storage Projects Under the Masdar-Endesa Partnership

The projects are the first storage developments delivered under the Masdar-Endesa partnership, which was established in 2024 when Masdar acquired a stake in a portfolio of Endesa's photovoltaic assets in Spain.

Dr. Ibraheem Almansouri, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Masdar, said Spain is one of Europe's fastest-growing major economies and that this growth requires secure, resilient power. According to his statement, the projects will help integrate more clean power into the grid and strengthen the stability of the electricity system.

He described them as demonstrating how strategic partnerships can accelerate the deployment of advanced energy technologies, strengthen grid resilience, and support sustainable economic growth, building on the strength of the partnership with Endesa while expanding Masdar's Iberian portfolio. He added that Masdar looks forward to continuing to invest in Spain and supporting the country's economic ambitions.

Local Jobs and European Supply Chain

A total of 50 jobs will be created across the construction of the three projects.

The partners have committed to using European-origin components and services, including inverters, auxiliary systems, communications, and integration, supporting the regional energy storage value chain.

At Ardila, the partners will also work with Fregenal de la Sierra Town Council to identify local improvement projects, with part of the budget reserved for training.

Masdar's Iberian Footprint and Global Capacity Goals

Masdar currently has 4.1 GW of operational capacity across the Iberian Peninsula, with around 1 GW under development.

The company says these projects continue its strategy of partnering with industry leaders to scale renewable energy deployment worldwide, as it targets 100 GW of global capacity by 2030.