Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded a contract to China-based Hithium for the deployment of two battery energy storage system (bess) projects in northern Saudi Arabia.

Located in Tabuk and Hail provinces, the projects will be developed in partnership with Saudi contractor Alfanar Projects.

They will have a combined capacity of 4GWh, representing one of the largest bess deployments in the Middle East.

The Chinese manufacturer will supply its energy storage battery cells through 6.25MWh bess units. The systems are engineered to withstand extreme climate conditions, with insulation that reduces internal temperatures by up to 10°C.

The bess installations will provide grid services including load shifting, black-start capability, frequency regulation and voltage support.

Hithium said it will manage system design, supply, installation supervision and long-term maintenance, while Alfanar will oversee construction.

Commissioning of the projects is scheduled for 2026.