Aed Energy Secures Investment to Scale Long-Duration Thermal Energy Storage Across MENA Region
Key Insights
Aed Energy secured investment from Catalyst, a Masdar City–bp backed accelerator, to expand its long-duration thermal energy storage systems across MENA.
The partnership includes Aed Energy opening an Abu Dhabi office, positioning it within a global clean energy innovation hub to serve the MENA region.
Aed Energy's MWh-scale thermal batteries convert intermittent renewable electricity into high-temperature heat for baseload energy, addressing critical demand gaps.
This strategic expansion aims to provide reliable, dispatchable clean energy for heavy industry, remote grids, and combined energy-water-cooling applications.
Aed Energy, a developer of long-duration thermal energy storage systems, has secured a strategic investment from Catalyst, the accelerator backed by Masdar City and bp, aimed at scaling climate technologies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This crucial funding is set to accelerate the deployment of Aed Energy’s innovative storage solutions, marking a significant step towards addressing the region's escalating demand for reliable, dispatchable clean energy.
As part of this pivotal partnership, Aed Energy will establish a new branch office within Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This move underscores the company's commitment to developing decentralized energy, water, and cooling infrastructure across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the broader MENA region. Locating within Masdar City positions Aed Energy at the heart of a global hub renowned for clean energy innovation and commercialization, leveraging Catalyst’s deep regional insights and access to strategic partners to expedite market penetration.
At the core of Aed Energy’s offering are its MWh-scale modular thermal batteries. These systems are engineered to capture intermittent renewable electricity, storing it efficiently as high-temperature heat. This stored energy is then dispatched as zero-carbon baseload power, providing direct applications in heat, power generation, and cooling. Designed for high reliability and low maintenance, these thermal batteries are particularly effective in environments where conventional battery technologies fall short, including heavy industrial facilities, remote grids, and integrated energy-water-cooling applications.
“The MENA region possesses abundant solar and wind resources, yet it faces limitations in clean baseload options,” stated Rayan Kassis, CEO of Aed Energy. “Our thermal batteries are designed to bridge this gap, delivering 24/7 energy for sites that require more than just a few hours of storage. We are focused on solving practical energy and water challenges at scale, from desalination to decentralized power and cooling, and Catalyst’s support will enable us to accelerate our progress.”
Swethal Kumar, Managing Director at Catalyst, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing, “At Catalyst, our mission is to accelerate scalable technologies that address real-world climate challenges. Aed Energy’s innovative thermal storage systems represent precisely the kind of high-impact solution needed to decarbonize critical energy and water infrastructure throughout the region. By supporting their growth, we are not only helping to bring reliable, affordable clean energy to markets where it is most needed but also reinforcing the UAE’s position as a launchpad for global climate innovation.”
With existing operations in the UK and US, this strategic milestone in the UAE significantly strengthens Aed Energy’s global footprint and expands its reach into high-growth markets across the Middle East and North Africa, poised to meet the region's growing energy demands with sustainable solutions.