Saudi Arabia Connects the World’s Largest 7.8 GWh Battery Energy Storage System to the Grid Published By Anupam Nath Saudi Arabia has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in its clean energy journey by successfully connecting a record-breaking 7.8 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to the national grid. This monumental project, spread across three major sites—Najran, Khamis Mushait, and Madaya—marks the largest operational battery storage installation in the world, setting a new global benchmark for grid-scale energy storage.The project, owned by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and developed by Algihaz Holding, was delivered under a full turnkey EPC contract including engineering, procurement, construction, and ongoing operations and maintenance. The power offtaker, National Grid SA, will integrate this BESS into the Kingdom’s main transmission network at 380 kV, enhancing the nation’s grid reliability and flexibility as renewable integration accelerates.Cutting-Edge Technology and Fast ExecutionChina’s Sungrow supplied the equipment for the project, deploying its advanced PowerTitan 2.0 energy storage solution. Remarkably, over 1,500 PowerTitan 2.0 units were manufactured in just 58 days, enabling fast delivery and installation despite Saudi Arabia’s challenging desert conditions.The PowerTitan 2.0 platform integrates all critical components—power conversion systems (PCS), battery containers, transformers, and switchgear—into a compact and modular configuration. This all-in-one design minimized on-site construction time while maintaining high efficiency and reliability. The system was also designed to operate as a grid-forming unit, providing crucial services like black-start capability, frequency response, voltage support, and virtual inertia—functions that stabilize the grid and support continuous renewable energy expansion.Strengthening the Kingdom’s Renewable Energy VisionThis historic BESS deployment aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national strategy emphasizing energy diversification, decarbonization, and digital transformation. The Kingdom aims to add 64 GW of renewable generation, with over 12.3 GW already integrated into the national grid.Currently, Saudi Arabia has 30 GWh of battery storage capacity under various stages of development, including the 2 GWh Bisha BESS, which went online earlier in 2025. Together, these projects will ensure that the grid can handle fluctuations from solar and wind generation and maintain consistent supply for homes, industries, and data centers.A Benchmark for Global Energy StorageWith the completion of this 7.8 GWh system, Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a global leader in large-scale energy storage implementation. This project not only demonstrates the nation's engineering and project management capabilities but also highlights its determination to lead in clean energy innovation across the Middle East and beyond.As the world transitions toward a carbon-neutral future, Saudi Arabia’s record-setting BESS marks a significant leap toward sustainable energy resilience—paving the way for a cleaner, more stable power grid for generations to come.
