Saudi Aramco has commissioned a megawatt-scale renewable energy storage system to power its gas production activities in western Saudi Arabia, the company announced on Thursday.
The 1-MWh iron-vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery system has been deployed at Wa’ad Al-Shamal in western Saudi Arabia and is the world’s first such system. Developed together with Rongke Power and based on Aramco’s proprietary design, the system will serve as a backup power source for up to five gas wells over its 25-year lifespan.
Able to handle variable demand efficiently and withstand temperatures between -8 and 60 degrees Celsius, the system is the first commercial use of Fe/V technology for this purpose. Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes pumped through cells and can be repeatedly charged with minimal degradation. Aramco’s design uses reduced amounts of vanadium and requires limited maintenance due to its modular design.
“The pioneering flow battery system spearheaded by Aramco’s researchers represents a breakthrough for the oil and gas industry. Aramco already powers a large number of remote gas wells with solar panels connected to lead-acid battery systems, but our groundbreaking flow battery technology offers a flexible solution for diverse renewable energy storage requirements, making it an attractive option for a variety of industrial applications,” said Aramco senior vice-president of technology oversight & coordination Ali A. Al-Meshari.
This initiative supports Aramco’s strategy to invest in renewable solutions and boost energy efficiency, in line with its goal of achieving net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from wholly-owned operated assets by 2050.