Abu Dhabi has just turned Spain into its preferred battlefield for clean energy. In January 2026, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), Emirati giant Masdar announced that its global portfolio had reached 65 GW, four years ahead of its own forecasts. The issue: it needs 35 additional GW by 2030, and the Iberian Peninsula sits at the center of that strategy.
This is not speculation. In the last 8 weeks, Masdar has held institutional meetings in Madrid with Teresa Ribera and the top leadership of Iberdrola, Endesa, and Acciona. January 2026 marks the first global energy event of the year, and Abu Dhabi is seizing the momentum to confirm investments of up to 35 billion dollars through 2030, with Spain as a priority market.
Why Spain has become its obsession
Masdar entered Spanish territory in 2024 with the purchase of Saeta Yield for 1.2 billion euros, a platform operating more than 1,200 MW between wind and solar in Madrid, Seville, and Zaragoza. The masterstroke came in 2025: it acquired 49.99% of a 446 MW portfolio from Endesa for 368 million euros, consolidating 3.2 GW in operation plus 2 GW under development.
Masdar’s Strategy Director confirmed talks with “all the major players in the Spanish sector.” The list is concrete:
- Iberdrola: alliance to co-invest 15 billion euros in international projects, including 50% of East Anglia Three
- Endesa: second co-investment underway after the success of the 2025 solar portfolio
- Acciona: negotiations for a 600 MW wind portfolio that has been up for sale since 2024
- Moeve (Cepsa): strategic talks with another company controlled by Abu Dhabi through Mubadala
The urgency has a date: March 2025, when Saeta closed a 234 MW solar project in Valencia with 259 MW of batteries. That move revealed the strategy: not just buying assets, but developing new infrastructure.
The video captures the atmosphere at the ADSW 2026 forum, where Masdar showcased its achievements in Spain while 424 companies from 60 countries competed for visibility.
Timing explains Europe’s nervous breakdown
In response, Europe is watching with suspicion. China accounted for nearly 60 of the 424 companies present in Abu Dhabi, cementing its dominance in solar and wind technology with costs 40% lower than European manufacturers. The United States announced its withdrawal from IRENA, leaving a geopolitical vacuum that Abu Dhabi is exploiting without hesitation.
Spain’s Secretary of State for Energy has acknowledged that “there is huge interest from Chinese manufacturers in setting up in Spain, both in electric vehicles and in batteries and renewable components.” The consequence: Abu Dhabi is speeding up before China floods the market with unbeatable prices. Masdar will mobilize between 6 and 7 billion euros per year through 2030 just to keep pace.
The striking figure: Abu Dhabi generates 15% of the GDP of the United Arab Emirates and is seeking to diversify its oil-based economy through clean energy. Spain offers stable regulation, access to the Mediterranean, and a prepared power grid, three advantages that China cannot replicate with cheap technology alone.
This second video contextualizes the Emirati message: “Taking the sector away from drama and political noise,” in reference to the US withdrawal from IRENA.
Why it matters beyond renewables
Beyond gigawatts, this move reveals a structural shift in global energy power. Abu Dhabi is not just buying assets: it is securing critical European infrastructure ahead of 2030, when the EU expects 42.5% of its energy to be renewable. If Masdar controls key parks in Spain, Germany, and the UK, it will wield influence over future prices and regulation.
With 3.2 GW in operation and 2 GW under development, Masdar is already one of the 10 largest renewable operators in the country. The mechanism is simple: Abu Dhabi pays premiums of 15–20% over market valuations to close deals quickly. This explains why Brookfield sold Saeta Yield despite it being profitable: it could not compete with Emirati decision-making speed.
2026 marks the point of no return. If Masdar meets its projections, by 2028 it will control between 5 and 6 GW in Spain, equivalent to Portugal’s entire capacity. That would make Abu Dhabi an indispensable player in Spain’s 2030 climate targets.
What comes next for the market
Looking ahead, Masdar has three moves pending. First: closing the purchase of Acciona’s 600 MW wind portfolio before summer 2026, valued at 450 million euros. Second: a second co-investment with Endesa in Andalusian solar PV, where there is a pipeline of more than 1,000 MW. Third: expanding the alliance with Iberdrola for offshore wind in Galicia and Catalonia.
The head of Saeta Yield has made it clear that the strategy focuses on “mainly wind, secondary solar PV, and large battery storage projects.” Spain needs 20 GW of storage by 2030 and currently has less than 1 GW in operation.
The market is speculating about a possible takeover bid for a second-tier Spanish renewable company to accelerate growth. One thing is certain: Abu Dhabi will not stop until it reaches its 100 GW global target, and Spain is a cornerstone of that plan.
Key questions to understand everything
Q: Why is Abu Dhabi investing so much in Spain?
A: Stable regulation, 300 days of sun a year, access to North Africa, and a grid already prepared for renewables.
Q: Is Masdar a public or private company?
A: It is a state-owned company from Abu Dhabi controlled by TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala, the emirate’s three sovereign funds.
Q: How much money will Masdar move in Spain through 2030?
A: Between 4 and 6 billion euros, according to projections based on its global commitments (30–35 billion dollars).
