ROX Capital Group plans to establish a network of multi-chemistry battery developers to drive an expansion of energy storage systems and components manufacturing in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The UAE-based investment firm said on October 5 its ‘Gulf energy storage platform’ will identify and bring together technologies for utility-scale and commercial projects, while evaluating regional opportunities for assembly and manufacturing.

The platform is expected to include battery chemistries such as vanadium redox flow, lithium iron phosphate and sodium ion.

Long-duration storage technologies are set to feature ‘CO₂ batteries’, gravity-based storage, compressed-air energy storage and thermal storage.

ROX plans to establish regional partnerships with a “select group of technology leaders”, with partners selected based on their global track record.

Key requirements will include a demonstrable ability to deploy high capacity, utility-scale energy storage projects.

ROX said it will prioritise companies with bankable systems, established manufacturing capabilities and the ability to provide long-term technical support, performance assurances and warranties.

The role of ROX will be to contribute local market knowledge, project development capabilities, stakeholder relationships and capital alignment.

Robin Antony, ROX’s founder, said while the Gulf is building some of the world’s largest solar projects, the next challenge is ensuring that clean power remains available after sunset and during periods of peak demand.

Antony said while lithium ion has transformed energy storage and will remain an important part of the solution, the Gulf’s climate, load profile and energy-security priorities create a need for a broader portfolio of technologies.

“No single technology will meet every requirement. We are building a platform that matches the right technology to the needs of each project and, where viable, supports the development of local manufacturing capability.”

“High summer temperatures can increase cooling requirements, while solar-heavy systems require storage over longer periods after dark.”

Last year, UAE-based clean energy group Masdar broke ground on a project in Abu Dhabi that will combine a 5.2GW solar plant with a 19GWh BESS.

Also last year, Batteries International reported that the India-based Amara Raja group had opened a base in Dubai to boost business in the region, as well as serving as a hub for customers in Europe and Africa.