Saudi Arabia Launches 3,000 MW BESS Projects To Strengthen Grid Stability And Clean Energy Transition

The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), also known as the Principal Buyer, has announced the start of the pre-qualification phase for the second group of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in Saudi Arabia. The initiative is being carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy and reflects the country’s continued focus on building a strong and sustainable energy sector.

This second group consists of six independent projects located across different regions of the Kingdom. Together, these projects will have a total capacity of 3,000 MW and a storage capacity of 12,000 MWh. Each project is planned with a capacity of 500 MW and will provide four hours of storage, equal to 2,000 MWh per site. The selected locations include Samha in Qassim, Al-Lith and Khulais in Makkah, Al-Henakiyah in Madinah, Al-Saddawi in the Eastern Province, and Ashirah in Makkah.

All projects will follow the Build-Own-Operate model, where the selected developers will fully own and operate the facilities. Separate project companies will be formed for each site, and these companies will sign long-term storage service agreements with SPPC.

The main objective of these large-scale battery storage projects is to improve the stability and reliability of the national grid. As Saudi Arabia increases the share of renewable energy, such as solar and wind, energy storage systems play an important role in managing fluctuations in power generation. These systems store excess electricity when production is high and supply it when demand increases or generation drops, helping maintain a steady power supply.

This initiative is part of the National Renewable Energy Program, which supports the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The country aims to achieve around 50% of its electricity capacity from renewable sources by 2030. SPPC also highlighted that more solar and wind projects will be announced in the future to meet growing energy demand.

With this move, Saudi Arabia is making strong progress in modernizing its energy infrastructure. By investing in battery storage technology, the Kingdom is working to ensure a reliable power supply while supporting the transition to cleaner energy. The new BESS projects are expected to play a key role in strengthening the overall energy system and supporting long-term sustainability goals.