RIYADH: Saudi Arabia signed agreements for four battery energy storage projects with a combined capacity of 2,000 megawatts and four-hour storage duration, in deals worth more than SR4.35 billion ($1.16 billion).
The Saudi Power Procurement Co., the Kingdom’s principal buyer, signed the storage service agreements for the projects, which are the first batch of battery energy storage system initiatives to be developed under a build-own-operate model, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The four facilities will provide a combined 8,000 megawatt-hours of storage capacity, allowing them to deliver up to 2,000 MW for four hours. The projects, being developed under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, are intended to improve the reliability and efficiency of the electricity system while increasing its flexibility and ability to integrate renewable energy.
This development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to expand power generation capacity while incorporating cleaner technologies, including carbon-capture-ready power generation.
“These projects aim to increase the capacities of renewable energy and energy storage systems within the energy mix to reach about 50 percent by 2030,” the SPA report stated.
