Acwa Power has signed agreements with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) for a combined 6,000MWh of BESS projects at three sites in Saudi Arabia.

Acwa said on August 20 the facilities will be built at Haden, Muwayh and AlKahfah, and represent one of the largest BESS procurements globally.

Each plant is rated at 500MW/2,000MWh and will supply power under a 15-year agreement.

Haden and Muwayh are in the western region of the kingdom, while AlKahfah is in the north. At full output, each facility will provide four hours of battery storage.

The tender for the systems was run by the SPPC, which the Saudi energy ministry oversees as the kingdom’s principal buyer of electricity.

Omar Al Hassan, Acwa’s Saudi Arabia CEO, said: “Energy storage systems have become an essential part of how the kingdom is developing its power system, rather than simply an addition that comes after renewable energy projects are in place.”

Saudi Arabia has been at the centre of increasing commercial interest in developing energy storage and associated projects.

Batteries International reported last month that China-based ZOE Energy Storage had signed a joint-venture agreement with an undisclosed Saudi Arabian partner to develop and build an 18GWh BESS in the kingdom.

Other Chinese companies with interest in the region include BYD, which is developing 12.5 GWh of new Saudi BESS projects.

Earlier this year, CATL opened a ‘new energy aftermarket’ plant in Saudi Arabia featuring battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training and recycling services to support its operations in the Middle East.