meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

GCC leans towards battery energy storage

29 January 2024

 

The central tower of Noor Energy 1, the hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park, is visible to motorists on the Saih Al Dahal Road on the outskirts of Dubai.

The 263-metre solar tower is part of the $4.3bn project that is touted as the largest CSP and thermal energy storage (TES) facility in the world.

It heats the salt stored in nearby tanks during the day to enable the production of energy at night.

Awarded in 2017 to a team led by Saudi utility developer Acwa Power, Noor Energy 1 will deliver electricity at a levelised tariff of $cents 7.30 a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh), which Acwa Power says competes with fossil fuel-generated electricity without subsidy for reliable and dispatchable solar energy through the night.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the project in December.

The project’s higher levelised cost of energy (LCOE) compared to a plain solar PV plant accounts for the round-the-clock capability of the Noor Energy 1 plant to produce power.

The power-purchase agreement (PPA) for the project is for 35 years, which is 5-10 years longer than the average solar PPA in the Gulf region.

Competing technology

Six to seven years after the Noor Energy 1 contract was awarded, a competing technology addressing spinning reserve and intermittency when coupled with a renewable energy plant – battery energy storage –  is gaining acceptance.

Lithium-ion batteries store excess energy produced during the day, which can then be discharged at night, providing grid stability that until recently has been supplied by gas-powered or liquid fuel-powered generation plants.

The cost of batteries is forecast to decline significantly over the next six years and beyond, although the LCOEs for solar or wind farms with storage capacity are still broadly considered significantly higher than those without.

Source: Lazard

According to the US-headquartered financial advisory firm Lazard, the average LCOE in an unsubsidised, utility-scale solar PV averaged between $24 and $96 a megawatt-hour (MWh) in 2023. In comparison, the added cost of lithium-ion batteries with four-hour storage capacity to a similar solar PV farm takes the LCOE to between $46 and $102/MWh.

Critical choices

Several CSP with TES (CSP+TES) projects have been awarded and completed in the Middle East and North Africa region. Kuwait and Abu Dhabi have built 50MW and 100MW CSP facilities, respectively, while Acwa Power has developed three CSP plants with a total combined capacity of 500MW in Morocco.

However, not many CSP+TES projects are forthcoming.

Saudi Arabia previously planned to procure a hybrid solar and CSP+TES project, but such a scheme is not included in the fifth and sixth procurement rounds of its National Renewable Energy Programme.

In 2019, Morocco awarded the contract for Noor Midelt 1, an 800MW solar CSP scheme, but it is understood that the project has yet to reach financial close and construction work has yet to start.

In comparison, half of the GCC states are planning to procure battery energy storage system projects using an independent power producer (IPP) model.

Saudi Arabia plans to procure 10GW of battery energy storage capacity, equivalent to 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh), by 2030. The procurement process is expected to start this year for the first phase, which will comprise a dozen sites with a total capacity of 2GW.

Abu Dhabi's Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) received expressions of interest from developers last year for its first 400MW battery energy storage project.

Oman, which does not plan to procure further gas-powered plants, is also considering a similar project.

"Broadly, battery energy storage solutions make more sense now than CSP+TES technology," a Dubai-based renewable energy expert tells MEED.

Others, however, remain convinced that there will continue to be a place for CSP+TES, especially in jurisdictions with plenty of barren and unused land. This is mainly due to the technology's ability to produce up to eight hours of energy, compared to an average of four hours offered by lithium-ion batteries.

The first utility-scale battery storage installation in the GCC is in Saudi Arabia. The 1,300MWh facility is designed to support the off-grid utility infrastructure of the Red Sea Project development. The smaller Amaala project will also feature a 700MWh battery storage capacity.

Neom Green Hydrogen Company has incorporated a 400MW battery facility as part of the more than 4GW renewable energy contract it awarded India's Larsen & Toubro last year. The infrastructure will support a 2GW electrolysis plant that will produce green hydrogen to be converted into ammonia for export to Europe.

However, some Middle East-based renewable energy developers remain cautious about the timeline and the scale of the planned battery storage independent power projects across the region. 

"It is not clear if they have received an official mandate to proceed with the projects, but we are definitely interested in bidding," says a Dubai International Financial Centre-based executive from an international utility developer.

Related reads:

 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11469204/main1005.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Adnoc-Covestro deal decision due in May

    2 April 2025

    EU antitrust regulators are expected to decide by 12 May whether to clear or extend the review of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's (Adnoc) €15.9bn ($17.1bn) takeover of German chemicals producer Covestro.

    The 27-country EU competition enforcer can either clear the deal with or without conditions, or open a four-month investigation after its preliminary review, a Reuters report said, citing a filing on the European Commission's website.

    It was reported in October last year that Adnoc International, the overseas business arm of Adnoc Group, had signed an investment agreement Covestro in which it made a takeover offer of €14.7bn.

    Adnoc International said at the time that it will launch a voluntary public takeover of €62 ($69) a share, which implies an equity value for Covestro of about €11.7bn and represents a premium of about 54% to Covestro’s closing price on 19 June, the day before the first media coverage regarding a potential transaction.

    Leverkusen-headquartered Covestro’s supervisory and management boards supported the takeover offer.

    In addition, Adnoc International will subscribe to a 10% non-preemptive capital increase of €1.17bn in Covestro at the closing of the transaction.

    The offer will be subject to a minimum acceptance level of 50% plus one share and customary closing conditions, including merger control, foreign investment control and EU foreign subsidies clearances, the companies said.

    The agreement between Adnoc International and Covestro, which runs until the end of 2028, contains several obligations on the part of the Abu Dhabi energy producer, including maintaining Covestro’s existing business activities, corporate governance and organisational business structure.

    Adnoc approached Covestro about a potential takeover in September 2023, but initial advances were rejected, leading the Abu Dhabi state enterprise to raise the value of its offer.

    Adnoc’s initial approaches included a takeover price of €55 and then €57 a share, Bloomberg News reported at the time.

    Covestro’s expertise lies in chemicals recycling, which is key for the future of the energy industry and a target area for Adnoc.

    Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 slashed deliveries of natural gas to Germany, resulting in a crisis that gripped the German chemicals industry, which accounts for about 5% of the country’s GDP.

    Precedent

    In September, the European Commission approved the takeover of the telecommunications assets of Czech investment group PPF by UAE telecoms group e&.

    Sovereign wealth fund Emirates Investment Authority holds a 60% stake in e&. The commission's review concluded that the “subsidies received by e& did not lead to actual or potential negative effects on competition in the acquisition process”.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13602719/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Edgnex acquires Nordic data centre developer

    2 April 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Edgnex, a subsidiary of Dubai-based property developer Damac, has acquired Helsinki-headquartered data centre-focused real estate developer Hyperco as part of its European expansion strategy.

    Damac announced the acquisition on 31 March.

    Hyperco operates data centres in Finland and Sweden, "leveraging the region’s renewable energy sources, mature digital ecosystem and high connectivity", local media reports said.

    Hyperco's three co-founders and existing team will continue to lead operations through the next phase of growth, according to a statement by the company.

    Hussain Sajwani, founder of Damac Group, said his firm plans to "build a significant future capacity in the Nordics and establish a strong foothold in the market".

    Edgnex’s recent European activities include a €150m ($161.9m) joint venture in Greece with Public Power Corporation to develop a 12.5MW facility, expandable to 25MW, and a €400m commitment to build a 40MW data centre in Madrid, Spain.

    In January, Sajwani pledged $20bn to develop data centres in the US.

    Sajwani and then US President-Elect Donald Trump announced the plan on 7 January in Florida, a day after the US Congress certified Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

    The project’s initial phase covers establishing data centres in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.

    It was previously reported that the Dubai-based property developer plans to develop $1bn-worth of data centres in countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

    Edgnex is constructing two data centre facilities in Dammam and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia that will deliver 55MW in 2025. There are also plans for a data centre in Amman, Jordan, and another in Turkiye in partnership with Vodafone.

    In May, Damac announced its entry into the Indonesian market with plans to build a 15MW data centre in Jakarta. The first construction phase for the facility is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13602668/main1456.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Developers prepare Saudi round six solar IPP bids

    2 April 2025

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Prequalified developers are forming teams to bid for the contracts to develop solar farms under the sixth round of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP).

    MEED understands that bids are due for the four solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power projects (IPPs) by 1 June.

    The four solar IPPs have a combined capacity of 3,000MW.

    A 1,400MW solar PV IPP will be located in Najran, while the smallest – the 400MW Al-Sufun solar IPP – will be in Hail.

    The 600MW Samtah and 600MW Al-Darb solar IPPs will be located in Jizan, a region that has been placed under security-related travel alerts by some countries and international firms.

    Most of the prequalified bidders participated in site visits, which Saudi Arabia’s principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), conducted in late January.

    SPPC prequalified 16 companies that can bid as managing and technical members for the solar PV contracts. These are:

    • Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar, UAE) 
    • Alfanar Company (local)
    • EDF Renewables (France)
    • Kahrabel (Engie, France)
    • FAS Energy (local)
    • Jinko Power (Hong Kong)
    • Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco, South Korea)
    • Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
    • Nesma Renewable Energy (local)
    • SPIC Hunaghe Hydropower Development (China)
    • Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)
    • TotalEnergies Renewables (France)
    • AlJomaih Energy & Water (local)
    • Sembcorp Utilities (Singapore)
    • AlGihaz Holding Company (local)
    • Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo, South Korea)

    The following five companies have been prequalified to bid as managing partners:

    • Jera Nex (Japan)
    • Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina)
    • China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering (China)
    • Posco International (South Korea)
    • Saudi Electricity Company (SEC, local)

    Round six of the NREP will have a total combined capacity of 4,500MW, including the 1,500MW Dawadmi wind farm, for which a separate set of bidders has been prequalified.

    SPPC issued the prequalification request for round six of the NREP in September last year and received statements of qualifications from interested developers and developer consortiums the following month.

    SPPC is responsible for the pre-development, tendering and subsequent offtaking of the energy from the projects.

    US/India-based Synergy Consulting is the client's financial adviser for the NREP sixth-round tender. Germany’s Fichtner Consulting and US-headquartered CMS are the technical and legal consultants, respectively.

    MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh takes the diplomatic initiative
    > ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy forges onward
    > BANKING:     Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion
    > UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
    > DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
    > POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
    > WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record
    > CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
    > TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
    > DATABANK: Saudi Arabia’s growth trend heads up

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13602412/main0154.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Mitsubishi Power confirms Rumah 1 and Nairiyah 1 deal

    2 April 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Mitsubishi Power, part of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has confirmed it has received two orders to supply six M501JAC gas turbines for the Rumah 1 and Al-Nairiyah 1 power generation projects in Saudi Arabia.

    Rumah 1 is located in the Central Region in Riyadh and is part of the previously planned Riyadh Power Plant 15. Nairiyah 1 is located in the Eastern Region.

    The scope includes the supply of generators and auxiliary equipment, Mitsubishi Power said in a statement.

    MEED exclusively reported that the Japanese original equipment manufacturer had been selected to supply its gas turbines for the independent power project (IPP) in November last year.

    A consortium comprising the local Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Acwa Power and South Korea’s Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) won the contract to develop the Rumah 1 and Al-Nairiyah 1 IPP the same month.

    The power plants will deliver a combined 3.6GW, accounting for nearly 2.5% of the national grid’s capacity.

    The M501JAC turbines will be assembled at Mitsubishi Power Saudi Arabia’s Dammam factory.

    The 17,730 square-metre facility also provides services for gas turbine components.

    According to Mitsubishi Power, the plant features "a majority of Saudi employees, in line with the firm’s Saudi National programme".

    China’s Sepco 3 and South Korea's Doosan Enerbility will undertake the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the projects, as MEED reported.

    The SEC, Acwa Power and Kepco team offered a levelised electricity cost (LCOE) of $cents 4.5859 a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh) for Rumah 1 and 4.6114 $c/kWh for Al-Nairiyah 1.

    Acwa Power said that the two IPPs will require a combined investment of approximately SR15bn ($4bn). The IPPs are expected to reach commercial operations in Q2 2028. 

    Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) received bids for the contracts for four thermal IPPs – the other two being the similarly configured Rumah 2 and Al-Nairiyah 2 – in August last year.

    The four power generation facilities will be developed using a build, own and operate model over 25 years. 

    SPPC’s transaction advisory team for the Rumah 1 and 2 and Al-Nairiyah 1 and 2 IPP projects comprises US/India-based Synergy Consulting, Germany’s Fichtner and US-headquartered Baker McKenzie. 

    Photo credit: Mitsubishi Power (for illustrative purposes only)

    MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > GOVERNMENT: Riyadh takes the diplomatic initiative
    > ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy forges onward
    > BANKING:     Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion
    > UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
    > DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
    > POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
    > WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record
    > CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
    > TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
    > DATABANK: Saudi Arabia’s growth trend heads up

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13599792/main4910.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Iraq approves two major energy project contracts

    2 April 2025

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Iraq’s Council of Ministers has approved two major energy contracts that form part of the $10bn Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

    French oil and gas company TotalEnergies and its partners are developing the GGIP.

    TotalEnergies is the main operator of the GGIP. Basra Oil Company (30%) and QatarEnergy (25%) are the other stakeholders.

    One of the two awarded contracts is focused on the development of the Ratawi gas field and the other is focused on the Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP), which will transport seawater to oil fields for injection to increase production.

    The statement said that Iraq's Council of Ministers had approved the award of tender CSSP-ITT-06 from state-owned Basra Oil Company to China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPP).

    The contract awarded to CPP is for the pipeline package, which involves the construction of a seawater pipeline.

    MEED reported that CPP was a frontrunner to win the pipeline package in May last year.

    CPP is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation and the primary builder of pipelines in its home country.

    The pipeline package is one of two major packages in the CSSP. The other major package focuses on developing a water processing facility.

    The pipeline contract awarded to CPP will be executed over 54 months, including 42 months for engineering, procurement and construction and 12 months for operation, maintenance and training.

    The second contract that has been approved is for a planned gas processing plant at the Ratawi gas processing complex project.

    The Ratawi field is also sometimes called the Artawi field.

    This contract has been awarded by Iraq’s state-owned South Gas Company to China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC).

    In January, MEED revealed that CPECC had emerged as the frontrunner to win the contract, which is estimated to be worth about $1.7bn.

    When commissioned, the planned facility is expected to process 300 million cubic feet a day of gas. Its capacity is expected to double when a second expansion phase becomes operational in the future.

    The Ratawi gas processing facility project aims to improve Iraq’s electricity supply by capturing gas that would have otherwise been flared at several oil fields, including:

    • Luhais
    • Majnoon
    • Ratawi
    • West Qurna 2
    • Tuba

    Large gas volumes are flared from these oil fields, causing significant environmental damage. Collecting and processing flared gas will generate increased hydrocarbons revenues and reduce ecological damage.

    The gas tapped and processed from the oil fields will then be used to supply power plants, helping to reduce Iraq’s power import bill.

    As well as supplying Iraq’s national gas network to generate electricity, the Ratawi gas processing complex will increase the production of gas products, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and condensates.

    US-based consultant KBR has performed the front-end engineering and design work on the project.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13587414/main3428.jpg
    Wil Crisp