Saudi Arabia Ranks Top 10 in Energy Storage, Leads in Renewables
Saudi Arabia has secured a prominent position among the world's top ten markets in battery energy storage, coinciding with the launch of the Bisha project.
The project has a capacity of 2,000 megawatt-hours and is one of the largest energy storage projects in the Middle East and Africa.
Through the National Renewable Energy Program, overseen by the Ministry of Energy, the Kingdom aims to achieve a storage capacity of 48 gigawatt-hours by 2030. So far, 26 gigawatt-hours of storage projects have been tendered and are at various stages of development.
These projects play a pivotal role in supporting the expansion of renewable energy, reinforcing the Kingdom's energy mix targets. Saudi Arabia aims for renewable energy to account for 50% of total electricity production by 2030.
According to the classification by Wood Mackenzie, a consultancy specializing in the energy sector, Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of emerging markets experiencing rapid growth in energy storage projects. The addition of new storage capacities over the next decade is expected to strengthen its position among the world's top ten markets in this field.
This growth aligns with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030, as energy storage plays a crucial role in supporting the expansion of electricity generation from renewable sources such as solar and wind energy.
Saudi Arabia aims to operate 8 gigawatt-hours of energy storage projects by 2025 and 22 gigawatt-hours by 2026, making it the third-largest global market for energy storage projects, following China and the United States, based on announced storage capacities to date.
In this context, the Bisha Battery Energy Storage Project has been launched, featuring 488 advanced battery containers with a storage capacity of 500 megawatts for four hours. The project enables battery charging during periods of low demand and discharging during peak hours, ensuring the availability of backup power when needed. This enhances the flexibility of electricity supply management and supports the deployment of smart solutions for a more sustainable energy future.
Saudi Arabia's energy sector is undergoing a qualitative transformation, reinforcing its leadership in the production and export of various energy types. The total production capacity of renewable energy projects reached 44.1 gigawatts by the end of 2024, distributed across different stages of production.
Finally, energy storage contributes to improving the reliability of electricity supply, enhancing the national grid's ability to adapt to emergencies, and supporting the strategic goals of developing the energy sector in the Kingdom.
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