AgriPV Pilot By Masdar And Elite Agro To Transform UAE Arid Farming And Energy

Masdar is joining forces with Elite Agro Holding to deliver the first agricultural photovoltaic (AgriPV) project in the MENA region. The pilot will test how solar energy and greenhouse farming work together in UAE conditions, aiming to strengthen regional food supplies and low-carbon power generation at the same time.

The AgriPV project will be built at Elite Agro’s Al Foah Farm in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, where solar panels will sit alongside greenhouse structures. This layout allows the same land to host both crops and clean electricity, which is important in dry areas with limited farmland and strong power demand.

The AgriPV project is designed to back several national strategies, including the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the Net Zero 2050 target, by expanding low-carbon power capacity and improving efficiency. It also links to the National Food Security Strategy 2051, supporting modern agriculture and local food production using advanced Agri technologies.

Shading from photovoltaic panels in the AgriPV project is expected to help protect plants from extreme heat and lower water stress. This controlled environment can support better crop performance while reducing irrigation needs, so farmers use less water per kilogram of produce, an important factor across the Middle East and North Africa.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: "This groundbreaking project will demonstrate how clean energy and agriculture can thrive together, making food systems more resilient and supporting food and energy security," said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar. "By integrating advanced solar technology with local farming, we will reduce water use, boost crop yields, and generate renewable power as part of our commitment to innovation, resilience, and a greener future for the UAE and beyond."

Maurizio Terazzi, Chief Executive Officer of Elite Agro Holding, explained how the AgriPV project links to farming in challenging climates. Terazzi said that this partnership with Masdar marks an important step in supporting how agriculture is practiced in arid and semi-arid regions. "By integrating agricultural production with clean energy generation, we are demonstrating that food security and energy transition are not parallel ambitions, but interconnected solutions."

AgriPV project aims to deliver measurable results and regional model

Terazzi noted that the AgriPV project at Al Foah farm is intended to deliver clear, trackable outcomes rather than theoretical models. He added that the AgriPV pilot at Al Foah farm is designed to generate real, measurable outcomes, from improved water efficiency and crop performance to optimised land use and energy resilience.

The AgriPV project has been engineered specifically for UAE conditions, which include high temperatures, strong solar radiation and scarce freshwater. The partners expect the pilot to act as a scalable reference model for sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, offering data on technical, economic and agricultural performance to support future, larger installations.

The announcement of the AgriPV project took place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global platform dedicated to accelerating sustainable progress, which is hosted by Masdar. Presenting the pilot at this event places it within wider discussions on climate action, food security, and clean energy transitions across the Middle East and beyond.

Elite Agro Holding, which is working with Masdar on the AgriPV project, is an Abu Dhabi-based agrifood company offering end-to-end operations from sustainable farming and smart agri-tech to food processing, distribution and trade. The group runs activities in the GCC, Serbia, Morocco, Mauritania and Ethiopia, giving it experience across varied climates and markets.

The AgriPV project partners intend that lessons from Al Foah Farm will inform long-term planning for arid and semi-arid regions, including the Gulf. By combining solar technology with greenhouse farming, Masdar and Elite Agro Holding are aligning clean energy deployment with food production goals, providing a practical example of integrated climate and resource planning for the wider region.

With inputs from WAM