Samtah Rising: Saudi Arabia’s Shining Step Toward a Greener Tomorrow

A Landmark Day in Riyadh

In RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, history was written under the golden glow of progress. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and EDF Power Solutions’ consortium officially signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC). This pact signals the launch of the **Samtah Solar PV Power Project**, a pivotal development in **Round 6 of the National Renewable Energy Program**.  

The signing ceremony radiated significance, with His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy, gracing the event. Alongside him stood Bernard Fontana, Chairman & CEO of the EDF Group, and key leaders including Eng. Khalid bin Salem AlGhamdi, CEO of SEC; Mazin Al-Bahkali, CEO of SPPC; and Omar Al-Daweesh, CEO KSA of EDF Group. This unified presence reflected not just an agreement, but a shared vision — a determined stride toward a cleaner, more innovative energy future for the Kingdom.  

Powering Homes, Protecting Planet

Set in the sun-drenched landscapes of the Jazan Province — 35 kilometers southwest of Jazan City and 15 kilometers north of Samtah — the project will be developed, financed, built, and operated by the SEC–EDF consortium. Brimming with potential, the 600 MW Samtah Solar Power Project is scheduled to come online in the first quarter of 2028. Once operational, it will supply clean electricity to more than 100,000 homes each year, while cutting over **1.1 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually**.  

This strategic solar venture directly supports Saudi Arabia’s goal of producing 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It stands as a beacon of decarbonization, innovation, and localization — with a significant portion of materials, equipment, and services sourced from Saudi companies during its construction phase. This means more than just power generation; it sparks job creation, boosts local industries, and strengthens national capabilities, ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy multiply across communities.  

Voices of Vision

For SEC, this represents a defining milestone — their first large-scale solar photovoltaic project. As Eng. Khalid bin Salem AlGhamdi expressed, it reflects a deep strategic commitment to expanding renewable generation, ensuring sustainability, and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 energy goals.  

For EDF, according to Omar Al-Daweesh, it reinforces their role as a trusted international clean energy developer, bringing global expertise and local insight to deliver a high-standard, people-centered renewable project. Together, the partners are shaping a diversified, low-carbon energy future, proving that collaborative ambition can pave the way for a more sustainable and prosperous tomorrow.  

The Samtah Solar PV Project isn’t just about harnessing sunlight — it’s about harnessing hope, innovation, and community growth.** In a changing world, Saudi Arabia is making sure the light shines brighter, cleaner, and longer into the future.  

Desert Giants: How a 4GWh BESS Deployment Will Redefine Energy Resilience in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, - HiTHIUM, a leading global manufacturer of energy storage solutions, has been awarded a major contract by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to deploy two battery energy storage system projects in northern Saudi Arabia's Tabuk and Hail provinces. The total capacity of the projects is 4GWh, utilizing HiTHIUM's long-duration energy storage battery cells in ∞Power 6.25MWh Desert Eagle Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This landmark project, developed in partnership with Alfanar Projects, represents one of the largest BESS deployments in the Middle East and will play a pivotal role in advancing Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by enhancing grid stability and renewable energy integration.

Consequently, the award signifies both strategic ambition and technical confidence. Moreover, the initiative directly aligns with national objectives to increase renewable penetration while maintaining reliable supply. Therefore, stakeholders should expect measurable improvements in system flexibility and long-term operational resilience.

Innovation Meets Extreme Environments

Leveraging HiTHIUM's industry-leading ∞Cell 1175Ah technology – the world's first mass-produced long-duration energy storage solution – the project features ∞Power 6.25MWh Desert Eagle series containerized systems specifically engineered for Saudi Arabia's harsh climate.

Heat Resilience: Multi-layer insulation reduces internal temperatures by 8–10°C, ensuring reliable operation in -30°C to 60°C. Sandstorm Protection: Fully sealed components and automated dust alerts minimize maintenance needs. Proven Durability: Critical components rated for 40,000+ hours of continuous operation. Thus, the technical design anticipates environmental stressors and mitigates operational risk proactively.

In addition, the modular containerized approach facilitates rapid deployment and scalable expansion. Consequently, project developers can adapt capacity to evolving demand patterns while preserving lifecycle economics and safety standards.

Strategic Impact & Local Commitment

The BESS will provide critical grid services, including load shifting, black-start capabilities, frequency regulation, and voltage support, enabling higher renewable energy penetration and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. As the technology provider, HiTHIUM will oversee system design, supply, installation supervision, and long-term maintenance, while will lead Alfanar Projects leads construction, with commissioning targeted for 2026.

Dr. Keramat Fakhari, President of MEA at HiTHIUM highlighted: "This landmark 4GWh project marks a pivotal moment—not just for Saudi Arabia, but for HiTHIUM's commitment to delivering mission-critical energy storage where it matters most. By integrating our industry-leading ∞Cell technology with SEC's vision and Alfanar's regional expertise, we're redefining renewable integration in extreme environments. The deployments in Tabuk and Hail set a new benchmark for gigawatt-scale storage globally, proving HiTHIUM's role in accelerating the clean energy transition." Accordingly, the collaboration demonstrates tangible local commitment and strengthens regional supply-chain and technical capacity.

In summary, this deployment combines advanced long-duration storage technology with climate-hardened engineering and strategic partnership, thereby advancing both operational reliability and sustainability goals. Ultimately, the Tabuk and Hail BESS projects will serve as demonstrable catalysts for broader energy transition efforts across the Middle East.