Saudi Arabia is adding battery storage at national scale. In 2026 alone, the Ministry of Energy announced 13 renewable energy and battery storage projects with a combined 10.5 GW of capacity. The same shift is reaching temporary power on construction sites, remote camps and events.
For many projects, the question has moved from "how big a generator do we need?" to "how do we combine solar, storage and generators for the best result?" Here is how a hybrid temporary power system works and when it makes sense.
The three building blocks
- Solar generation. Foldable Solar Containers or rooftop arrays produce power during daylight hours. Foldable units deploy on site without permanent works and pack away when the project ends.
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Once deployed, the BESS charges on site from the solar array. It stores daytime energy and releases it when demand peaks or after sunset, and it can supply the site in island mode while the generators are off.
- Generators. Diesel generators provide firm capacity for heavy loads, long periods without sun and backup. Energia's fleet runs from 35 KVA to 1250 KVA and follows a standard maintenance schedule every 300 hours.
How they work together
A control system decides which source supplies the load at any moment. Solar is used first, the battery covers gaps and peaks, and generators start only when they are needed. When generators do run, they run closer to their efficient load range instead of idling for hours at low load.
The result is fewer generator running hours, lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and noise on site, and longer intervals between refuelling.
Where hybrid power fits best
- Remote and off-grid sites: mining exploration, construction camps and infrastructure projects far from the grid.
- Long-running events: festivals and exhibitions that run for weeks with predictable daytime loads.
- Base load operation: sites with a steady overnight load, such as accommodation camps or telecom equipment.
- Noise-sensitive areas: hospitality zones and residential edges where quieter operation matters.
A standard generator setup may still be the right call for very short events or extreme peak loads. A good provider will assess the load profile before recommending either option.
Questions to ask your provider
- What is the site's load profile across 24 hours?
- How much of that load can solar and BESS realistically cover?
- How does the system switch between sources, and how is it monitored?
- Who manages fuel, maintenance and on-ground support?
Supporting Vision 2030
Hybrid temporary power supports the Kingdom's goals for economic diversification and sustainable development, helping projects reduce fuel use without compromising reliability.
Energia's Renewables division combines Foldable Solar Containers, BESS, the Mobile Solar Vehicle and our generator fleet into turnkey hybrid systems, with in-house logistics, fuel management and 24/7 on-ground technical support.
To discuss a hybrid setup for your site, call 9200 333 02, email [email protected] or visit energiaksa.com/renewable-energy.
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