How BYD & SEC are Delivering Energy Storage for Vision 2030
BYD Energy Storage has signed a contract with Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to deliver 12.5GWh of grid-scale energy storage capacity, creating a combined 15.1GWh installation when added to a previously completed 2.6GWh project.
Spanning five locations across Saudi Arabia, the deployment will integrate with the national power transmission network and aims to reduce fossil fuel reliance.
The project will be conducted as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which is targeting renewable energy sources for 50% of electricity generation by the end of the decade.
The battery energy storage systems will be installed to balance peak demand and enhance grid resilience as renewable energy inputs increase across the Kingdom's power infrastructure, both companies say.
A landmark contract to deploy cutting-edge technology
Energy storage systems capture electricity at one point in time for later use, allowing grid operators to balance supply and demand fluctuations that occur with wind and solar generation.
The technology is also designed to reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaking plants and enables use of renewable energy sources in the electricity mix.
BYD will supply its MC Cube-T ESS battery systems using Cell-to-System integration technology for the Saudi installations. The systems deliver a Vcts index exceeding 33%, measuring how efficiently cell volume is utilised within each storage unit.
The technology represents BYD’s approach to maximising energy density in grid-scale applications, with the company saying the contract represented “a solid and crucial step forward in their collaboration in the renewable energy sector, injecting strong momentum into the development of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy industry”.
The Chinese manufacturer has completed energy storage installations totalling more than 75GWh across 350 projects in 110 countries and regions during its 17-year operation in the sector. It also maintains manufacturing and service operations spanning research and development through to project commissioning and ongoing maintenance support.
Supporting Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy goals
SEC selected BYD’s technology to introduce battery storage capabilities across multiple grid connection points in Saudi Arabia. The battery installations will connect directly to Saudi Arabia’s national power transmission infrastructure, allowing SEC to deploy stored energy across the grid as demand requires.
The five-location deployment provides geographic distribution of storage capacity rather than concentrating systems at a single site.
Such an approach from SEC reflects utility-scale storage strategies that distribute capacity to provide grid services including frequency regulation, peak shaving and renewable energy integration support.
With this in mind, the systems will operate automatically to respond to grid conditions and maintain power quality as renewable generation varies throughout daily and seasonal cycles.
BYD looks to expand global portfolio
The Saudi project represents BYD Energy Storage’s strategy to secure contracts for utility-scale installations that demonstrate battery technology capabilities at grid level. It has positioned itself to compete for similar projects as governments implement renewable energy mandates requiring storage support.
BYD describes its philosophy as “Technology-based, Innovation-oriented” and operates across what it terms generation, utility and consumption applications.
The company manufactures battery cells, develops energy management systems and provides project implementation services for storage installations.
Market confidence in electro-chemistry-based energy storage solutions is expected to grow as projects demonstrate operational performance and cost competitiveness with traditional grid infrastructure.
This installation in Saudi Arabia hopes to provide operational data on large-scale battery performance in desert climate conditions that affect many data centre locations globally.
“With its leading technological advantages, exceptional delivery capabilities, comprehensive after-sales support system, and all-around comprehensive strength, BYD Energy Storage has successfully earned high praise and deep recognition from the global market, reaching the peak of the industry,” BYD says.
The company plans to increase research and development investment and expand its global presence following the Saudi contract signing.
BYD Energy Storage aims to “promote the widespread application and deep integration of energy storage technology and join hands with global partners to usher in a new era of energy transition, leading the energy storage industry towards a clean and sustainable future”.
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