Four Deals Worth $1.16 Billion
Saudi Arabia signed four agreements on August 20 to develop large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS). The total investment exceeds SAR 4.35 billion, roughly $1.16 billion. The deals form part of the kingdom’s broader energy strategy to secure the grid integration of its growing solar and wind capacity.
ENGIE Secures the Al-Khushaybi Project
France’s ENGIE, partnered with Saudi firm Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co., won the Al-Khushaybi project in the Qassim region. The three remaining sites — Al-Muwyah, Haden, and Al-Kahafa — were awarded to a consortium bringing together Saudi Energy, ACWA Power, and Al Sharif Contracting.
500 MW, Four Hours of Storage per Site
Each of the four facilities will have a capacity of 500 MW, deliverable over four consecutive hours — a storage capacity of 2,000 MWh per site. Combined, the four projects add up to 2,000 MW and 8,000 MWh. The batteries will store electricity when generation, particularly solar, is abundant, then release it back to the grid when demand rises.
A Second Wave: Six More Projects in the Pipeline
Saudi Arabia has already launched the tender process for six additional projects, representing a further 3,000 MW and 12,000 MWh of capacity. The pace signals Riyadh’s intent to scale up large-scale storage infrastructure quickly.
Target: 50% Renewables by 2030
Saudi Arabia is targeting an electricity mix of roughly 50% renewable energy by 2030, while reducing its reliance on liquid fuels for power generation. Battery storage is a key piece of that puzzle, helping absorb the intermittency of renewable generation as the kingdom scales up its clean energy capacity.
. France's ENGIE won the Al-Khushaybi project in the Qassim region.){kind=link}