Saudi Arabia has achieved a major milestone in its energy transition journey by successfully connecting a 7.8 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) to the national electricity grid. The large-scale storage project is among the biggest grid-connected battery installations globally and is expected to significantly strengthen grid reliability and flexibility.
The battery storage capacity has been deployed across three locations in the southwest region of the Kingdom—Najran, Khamis Mushait, and Madaya—with each site contributing roughly equal storage capacity. The facilities have been linked to the high-voltage transmission network, enabling them to support large-scale grid operations.
The project has been developed with the involvement of technology provider Sungrow and EPC partner Algihaz Holding. Advanced lithium-ion battery systems have been installed to deliver services such as frequency regulation, peak load management, and renewable energy balancing.
By enabling better management of electricity supply and demand, the BESS will play a critical role in integrating higher volumes of renewable energy, particularly solar power, into Saudi Arabia’s grid. The storage system also enhances energy security by providing fast-response backup power during grid disturbances.
The commissioning of the 7.8 GWh battery project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, which focus on diversifying the energy mix and reducing carbon emissions. As the Kingdom continues to scale up renewable generation capacity, large-scale energy storage projects like this are expected to become a central pillar of its modernized and resilient power infrastructure.
