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Saudi Arabia Ranks Among Top 10 Energy Storage Markets with Major BESS Projects

Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the top ten energy storage markets globally, driven by large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects like the 2,000 MWh Bisha Project, one of the largest in the Middle East and Africa. The country aims to achieve 48 GWh of storage capacity by 2030, with 26 GWh already tendered under the National Renewable Energy Program. According to Wood Mackenzie, Saudi Arabia’s energy storage capacity is expected to reach 8 GWh by 2025 and 22 GWh by 2026.

Key Developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

• BYD Energy Storage & Saudi Electricity Company signed a 12.5 GWh grid-scale battery storage contract, expanding their total partnership capacity to 15.1 GWh. The project will integrate BYD’s MC Cube-T ESS technology at five sites to enhance grid stability.
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction secured a 389 million dollar contract to construct a 491 km power grid connecting solar projects in Medina and Jeddah. The grid, expected to be completed by November 2027, will link the Humayji and Qulais solar power connections to Medina and Mecca respectively.
• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced a new solar project with BESS integration to ensure uninterrupted power supply, aligning with the UAE’s 2050 net-zero goal.
• The seventh phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will integrate 1.6 GW of solar capacity with 1 GWh of battery storage, helping DEWA exceed its 5,000 MW target before 2030. Deloitte has been appointed as the global consultant for the project.
• Chinese solar giant Trinasolar is set to establish its first Middle East factory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by March 2025, targeting the country’s 125 dollar billion renewable energy market with solar trackers and smart control systems.

North Africa’s Green Hydrogen Expansion

• The Dakhla green hydrogen and ammonia export project in Morocco is set to produce 1 million tons of hydrogen annually by 2031. The project, led by Dahamco, has already secured 4.04 billion dollar in investment, with potential financing rising to 25 billion dollar. The hydrogen and ammonia will be exported to Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp for industrial and maritime applications.
• TotalEnergies, Masdar, and 2PointZero signed a ‘framework for action’ to drive clean energy expansion in Africa and Asia, focusing on renewable energy access in emerging markets.

With Saudi Arabia’s ambitious energy storage goals, large-scale BESS projects, and expanding renewable infrastructure, the region is positioning itself as a global leader in the clean energy transition.