Hithium plans manufacturing capacity in Saudi Arabia, unveils desert-tailored battery storage solution

Chinese battery energy storage company Hithium and Saudi firm MANAT, founded by former Saudi Aramcos chief engineer Nabilah AlTunisi, announced the formation of a joint venture — Hithium MANAT, at the 2024 Solar and Storage Live KSA event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week.

The new partnership aims to establish a battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia with an annual capacity of 5 GWh.

The joint venture will leverage Hithium‘s expertise in manufacturing and MANAT’s understanding of the local market and customer base to better serve Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing energy storage needs. Details of the investment plan and construction timeline were not disclosed by Hithium.

At the event, Hithium also presented its desert-focused energy storage system solutions, specifically designed for the unique requirements of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. These systems boast advanced dust storm protection and robust high- and low-temperature performance, with the ability to support discharge cycles exceeding 12 hours.

Saudi Arabia’s energy demand is rapidly increasing, driven by ongoing economic development, accelerated industrialization, and population growth. It is forecasted that by 2030, the Kingdom’s total electricity demand will reach 121 TWh.

As part of its Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia has positioned solar and wind power as key pillars of its future energy mix, with solar power expected to account for 27% of the total energy supply and wind power 9% by 2030.

To enhance grid stability as renewable energy capacity increases, Saudi Arabia plans to build 24 GWh of battery energy storage systems between 2024 and 2025.

Currently, 8 GWh of projects are under construction, with another 10 GWh expected to be tendered by the end of 2024. While details for 2025 project tenders have not been disclosed yet, the vast market potential guarantees significant opportunities for energy storage developers.

Headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian Province, Hithium ranked sixth among China’s energy storage suppliers in terms of BESS shipments in 2023.