- Aramco has successfully commissioned the world’s first megawatt-scale Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery.
- Aramco’s Fe/V battery is designed to perform across a wide temperature range of -8°C to 60°C without thermal regulation systems, making it suitable for remote operations in the desert.
Aramco has successfully commissioned the world’s first megawatt-scale Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery. This battery is set to store solar energy to provide a backup power source for gas well operations.
The flow battery system is based on Aramco’s patented technology, which was developed in collaboration with Rongke Power.
Ali A. Al-Meshari, Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination at Aramco, says, “The pioneering flow battery system spearheaded by Aramco’s researchers represents a breakthrough for the oil and gas industry.
He noted, “Aramco already powers many 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 various industrial applications.”
He said, “This is just one example of how Aramco is developing and deploying advanced technologies with the aim of enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions across its operations.”
Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes is held in external tanks. Electrolytes pumped into a battery cell convert chemical energy into electricity.
These batteries can be repeatedly recharged and discharged with minimal capacity loss, and reduce fire risks compared to other types of batteries.
The modular design of flow batteries makes them easier and less costly to maintain than other batteries and allows for capacity to be increased by enlarging tanks or adding more cells.
Aramco’s Fe/V battery is designed to perform across a wide temperature range of -8°C to 60°C without thermal regulation systems, making it suitable for remote operations in the desert.
This Fe/V flow battery is located in Wa’ad Al-Shamal, in western Saudi Arabia. It can deliver an MW/hour and support up to five wells across its projected 25-year lifespan.
Aramco says that the system “offers a robust alternative to existing solar energy solutions and can handle variable power demands efficiently and cost-effectively.”
The flow battery has been specifically engineered to withstand the hot climate of Saudi Arabia and achieve optimal performance under extreme weather conditions. Aramco says that this battery aligns with its focus on renewable investments and energy efficiency.
This is part of its ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned and operated assets by 2050.
“Sustainability also means being a good corporate citizen, focusing on the safety of our people, their long-term development and the value we add to society more widely,” says His Excellency Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Aramco, in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
Aramco has set an interim 2030 target for reducing its upstream carbon intensity, aiming to reach a carbon intensity of 8.6kg CO₂e per barrel of oil equivalent or lower. Currently, its upstream carbon intensity sits at 9.7kg CO₂e per barrel of oil equivalent.
The battery, it says, “paves the way for further integration of the technology at isolated and unmanned oil and gas sites, providing an efficient power solution that can adapt to fluctuating demands without incurring additional expenses”.