On April 27, 2025, BYD Energy Storage completed the hoisting operation of 120 MC Cube-T cube energy storage system cabinets at the Beiji Wharf of Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi, and successfully loaded the ship and set sail for Saudi Arabia. This marks the official opening of the world's largest grid-side energy storage project, the 12.5GWh project, in which BYD participated.
1. The urgent need and ambitious goals of Saudi Arabia's energy transition
As an important global energy producer and consumer, Saudi Arabia has long relied heavily on traditional fossil fuels. However, with the intensification of global climate change problems and the continuous maturity of renewable energy technologies, Saudi Arabia is deeply aware of the importance of energy transition, and has formulated an ambitious "Vision 2030", which plans to achieve 50% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and build a world-leading green energy hub.
Against this backdrop, energy storage technology has become key to Saudi Arabia's energy transition. The 12.5GWh energy storage project with BYD is an important step for Saudi Arabia to achieve its energy transition goals. The project will greatly enhance the stability and reliability of Saudi Arabia's power grid, effectively solve the intermittent and fluctuating problems of renewable energy power generation, and provide solid technical support for Saudi Arabia's large-scale access to renewable energy.
Figure: BYD Energy Storage shipped 12.5GWh of the world's largest grid-side energy storage project
2. BYD's technical advantages and project strength
As a leader in the global new energy industry, BYD has continued to invest in the research and development of energy storage technology and has achieved many breakthrough results. Its unique CTS (cell-to-system) super integration technology is one of the core technologies of the 12.5GWh energy storage project. This technology pushes the cell-to-system volume ratio (Vcts) to a record high of more than 33%, which greatly improves the space utilization and energy density of the energy storage system.
In addition, the MC Cube-T energy storage system is equipped with BYD's special blade battery, which is an ultra-thin blade battery form, like the perfect nesting of Tetris, allowing the batteries to be arranged in three dimensions in the space, further optimizing the battery layout and improving the overall performance and safety. Blade batteries also have the characteristics of high energy density, long cycle life and excellent thermal stability, which can ensure the stability and reliability of the energy storage system during long-term operation.
The battery management system (BMS) is also one of the highlights of BYD's energy storage system. It can monitor the battery status in real time, accurately control the charging and discharging process, ensure that the battery is always running in the best state, effectively prevent risks such as overcharge, overdischarge and thermal runaway, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the entire energy storage system.
In this 12.5GWh energy storage project, BYD will provide a total of 2,364 Rubik's Cube energy storage cabinets. This huge number not only reflects BYD's strong production capacity, but also demonstrates its leading position in the global energy storage market. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the project, BYD has built a mature standardized and process-based full-cycle management system, which can provide customers with all-round support from the customization of energy storage solutions in the early stage, shipment and delivery, to the operation and maintenance and after-sales service in the later stage.
3. The milestone significance and global impact of the project
The implementation of the 12.5GWh energy storage project is a milestone for Saudi Arabia's energy transition. First of all, it will bring major changes to Saudi Arabia's energy structure, reduce dependence on traditional fossil energy, reduce carbon emissions, and promote the development of the energy structure in a clean, low-carbon and sustainable direction. Secondly, the project will inject new impetus into Saudi Arabia's economic development, create a large number of jobs, and promote the development of related industries.
From a global perspective, the successful promotion of the world's largest grid-side energy storage project has also set a new benchmark for the global energy storage industry. It demonstrates the possibility and feasibility of large-scale energy storage projects in terms of technology integration, engineering implementation, project management, etc., and provides valuable reference experience for energy transition in other countries and regions. By participating in the project, BYD has further consolidated its leading position in the global energy storage market and enhanced its brand awareness and market influence.
4. BYD's global layout and market competitiveness of energy storage
In the years of development, BYD Energy Storage has built a complete sales, delivery, operation and maintenance and after-sales network system around the world. By the end of 2024, BYD Energy Storage has successfully delivered more than 360 energy storage projects, with an application footprint covering more than 110 countries and regions around the world, and a cumulative commercial operation experience of more than 75GWh.
BYD's global layout and market competitiveness also benefit from its deep integration in the industrial chain. BYD adheres to the R&D of the whole industry chain, from material R&D, manufacturing process, battery cell design and intelligent manufacturing capabilities, to core equipment such as BMS, EMS and Rubik's Cube system, and has achieved deep vertical integration. This vertically integrated model enables BYD to quickly respond to customer needs during the project implementation process and improve the efficiency of project execution and quality control.
5. Challenges and opportunities
Although BYD Energy Storage has shown strong strength and advantages in the 12.5GWh project in Saudi Arabia, it also faces some challenges in the implementation of the project. First of all, there are technical challenges, such a large-scale energy storage project is the first in the world, and many technical difficulties need to be overcome, such as system integration and optimization, long-term stable operation of equipment, etc. The second is the challenge of cost control, the construction and operating costs of large-scale energy storage projects are high, and how to effectively control costs and improve the economic benefits of the project under the premise of ensuring the quality and performance of the project is an important problem that BYD needs to face.
However, the project also brings huge development opportunities for BYD. By participating in the world's largest energy storage project, BYD can further accumulate technical and management experience in large-scale energy storage projects, and improve its technology research and development level and project implementation capabilities. At the same time, the successful implementation of the project will win BYD more market share and cooperation opportunities in the global energy storage market, and promote the continuous growth of its energy storage business.
6. Conclusion
The shipment of BYD's 12.5GWh energy storage project marks a new stage in the global energy transition. It not only provides strong support for Saudi Arabia's energy transition, but also sets a new benchmark for the global energy storage industry. As the global demand for clean energy continues to grow, energy storage technology will play an increasingly important role in the energy transition.
In the future, BYD Energy Storage is expected to continue to lead the development of the global energy storage industry with its innovative technology, reliable products and excellent services, and contribute to building a clean, low-carbon and sustainable energy future. The 12.5GWh energy storage project will surely become a significant part of the global energy transition process and open a new chapter in the global energy storage industry.
