Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) has unveiled a world-first milestone by successfully commissioning a megawatt (MW)-scale renewable energy storage system to power gas production activities, according to an official statement.
This is the first deployment globally of an Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery as a backup solar power source for gas well operations.
Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight & Coordination, Ali A. Al Meshari, said: "The pioneering flow battery system spearheaded by Aramco’s researchers represents a breakthrough for the oil and gas industry.”
Al Meshari added: “Aramco already powers a large number of remote gas wells with solar panels connected to lead-acid battery systems, but our ground-breaking flow battery technology offers a flexible solution for diverse renewable energy storage requirements, making it an attractive option for a variety of industrial applications.”
The official concluded: “This is just one example of how Aramco is developing and deploying advanced technologies with the aim of enhancing and reducing emissions across its operations.”
Located in Wa’ad Al Shamal in western Saudi Arabia, the 1-MW/hour flow battery system is based on Aramco's patented technology and was developed in collaboration with Rongke Power (RKP), a global leader in flow batteries.
The system can support up to five wells over its projected 25-year lifespan, offers a robust alternative to existing solar energy solutions, and can handle variable power demands efficiently and cost-effectively.
Moreover, it is specifically engineered to withstand the hot climate of Saudi Arabia and achieve optimal performance under extreme weather conditions, setting it apart from other vanadium flow batteries on the market.
Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes separately from battery cells, and electrolytes pumped into the cell convert chemical energy into electricity.
In addition to providing energy independence, flow batteries can be repeatedly discharged and recharged with minimal capacity loss while reducing fire risks compared to other types of batteries. Meanwhile, their modular design makes them easier and less costly to maintain.
The new (Fe/V) flow battery commissioned by Aramco aligns with the company’s focus on renewables investment and energy efficiency, as part of its ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 gas emissions across its wholly-owned operated assets by 2050.
Aramco added that the new flow battery offers enhanced electrolyte utilization and reduced vanadium consumption compared to others available, and has a broad operating temperature range of -8°C to 60°C without the need for thermal management systems.
Earlier in May 2025, the Saudi oil giant entered into 34 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements with leading US companies through its Aramco Group Companies at a potential total value of around $90 billion.
