Saudi Arabia has completed the grid connection of its largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to date, totaling 7.8 gigawatt-hours across three southwestern sites in Najran, Khamis Mushait, and Madaya.
Each site, connected at 380 kV, contributes 2.6 GWh and is owned by the Saudi Electricity Company, with National Grid SA serving as the offtaker. The turnkey project was delivered by Algihaz Holding, which also provides operations and maintenance, including high-voltage transformer integration.
The BESS is designed as a grid-forming system, offering black-start capability, virtual inertia, fast frequency response, and voltage support, enabling higher renewable penetration while stabilizing the Saudi transmission network.
China’s Sungrow supplied over 1,500 PowerTitan 2.0 units in just 58 days, employing a modular AC-DC block design that integrates power conversion systems, pre-assembled battery containers, medium-voltage transformers, and ring main units. Onsite installation time was reduced through factory-tested modular components, supported by a local Sungrow service team for commissioning and grid connection.
Completed approximately five months ago, the project represents the largest BESS globally and a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 energy ambitions. The Kingdom now has 12.3 GW of renewable energy connected to the grid, with a pipeline nearing 64 GW. Concurrently, 30 GWh of battery storage is under development, including the 2 GWh Bisha BESS, allowing grid operators to manage real-time fluctuations from variable renewable generation.
