​The first of its kind in the State of Qatar​​

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) launched the first pilot project to store electrical energy using batteries in the State of Qatar, in cooperation with Al Attiyah Group and Tesla Incorporation, where the batteries were connected to a substation connected to the local Nuaija station on a voltage of 11 kV, and are controlled by the Control Center of Distribution Control Center. 

This pioneering project, the first of its kind in Qatar to store energy using batteries, aims to secure production capacity at peak times to raise energy efficiency and enhance sustainability. Energy storage units with a capacity of 1 MW / 4 MWh have been installed in the Nuaija station with the aim of storing energy off-peak hours and using it at the maximum load of the station. It can also be used to improve the network voltage. 

The implementation of the project took nearly a year, as KAHRAMAA succeeded in completing the project ahead of schedule and beginning operations to benefit from it during the summer period, which is one of the highest periods of energy consumption in the State of Qatar compared to the rest of the year. 

This project was implemented with high specifications, as Al Attiyah Group built and prepared the civil work and installed the equipment in the station in coordination with KAHRAMAA, while Tesla Inc. provided the energy storage system (batteries). The total cost of the project reached about QR 10 million. 

KAHRAMAA is proud that its young Qatari personnel have managed the project in all its stages, starting with design and planning to implementation and operation. The team has succeeded in overcoming many challenges faced during the implementation, most important of which is managing and training its personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby modern and visual means of communication have been used to train the team to operate the project.

The use of energy storage systems in power grids (batteries) is considered one of the global systems to raise energy efficiency and enhance sustainability. The importance of the success of this pilot project lies in opening new prospects and avenues to engage in larger projects in the future by connecting them to some high-load stations in the network, and integrating them with KAHRAMAA’s strategic projects for renewable energy, such as Al Kharsaah Solar Power Project.