Everflow JV to manufacture Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) in KSA
Nusaned Investment and SCHMID Group have closed the JV transaction in Saudi Arabia focusing
on manufacturing and technology development in the field of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
(VRFB).
Nusaned Investment (an investment company owned by SABIC) and SCHMID Group announced
today that they have successfully closed their JV transaction focusing on manufacturing and
technology development in the field of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) after receiving all
required regulatory approvals and satisfying all closing conditions. The agreement to establish
(Advance Energy Storage System Investment Company) (the “JV”) was signed and announced in
May 2019. During the next 2 to 3 months, The Riwaq Industrial Development Company will join
the JV as additional investors and shareholders.
The JV aims to become a global technology leader and champion in the fast-growing utility-scale
energy storage segment, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification objectives.
With R&D facilities in Germany and Saudi Arabia, the JV plans to set-up a GW scale
manufacturing facility in the Kingdom, expected to be in production in 2021. The JV’s strategy for
developing value chain integrated production will allow it to achieve global cost leadership.
Fuad Mosa, CEO of Nusaned Investment said: “The JV marks a milestone for Saudi Arabia in its
quest to localize manufacturing for technologies in emerging industries, and marks another major
step in SABIC’s NUSANEDTM program that seeks to build partnerships and enable local content
creation”. Christian Schmid, CEO of the Schmid Group said: “The new JV will aim to establish a
leadership position in the rapidly developing energy storage market and both companies are fully
committed to realizing our joint vision for the project.”
The JV will produce energy storage systems for use alongside utility-scale renewables projects,
telecom towers, mining sites, remote cities and off-grid locations. The systems will be utilized for
renewables capacity grid integration, establishment of mini grids at remote locations, optimization
of diesel generator capacity, and power back-up. The JV’s products will be offered under the
EVERFLOW brand.
The JV will directly contribute to the Kingdom’s renewable ambitions. As per the new energy mix
announced this year, Saudi Arabia will aim to install 57.5 GW of renewable capacity in the
Kingdom by 2030. Utility-scale stationary energy storage systems will be critical to ensure that the
new renewable capacity is stabilized and connected reliably to the grid. The Kingdom could also
leverage this technology in the upcoming mega-projects in the Kingdom.
The proposed manufacturing facility and R&D center is going to be developed in Dammam 3rd
Industrial City. The facility will be built under a Build-to-Suit lease agreement with MODON. The
project site has been identified and construction is expected to start in the first half of 2020. The
facility will have an annual production capacity of 3 GWh and will be among the biggest Flow
Batteries production facilities worldwide.
Nusaned Investment is an investment company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and owned by
SABIC with a mandate to increase local content in the Kingdom. Nusaned Investment invests
alongside the investors in localizing mature technologies and pioneering emerging technologies in
the Kingdom. Nusaned Investment prioritizes economic development and strategic benefit for KSA,
in addition to supporting and enabling the execution of KSA’s National Industrial Strategy (NIS).
Schmid Group is a technology group based in Freudenstadt, Germany. Founded in 1864, the
group of companies employs more than 900 staff members worldwide and has technology centres
and manufacturing sites in Germany, China, Turkey and the USA in addition to several sales and
service locations worldwide. The group focuses on developing customized equipment and process
solutions for multiple industries including Electronics, Renewables and Energy Storage.
The Riwaq industrial development company is a developer and investor in industrial projects
focusing on advance technologies in the sector of renewable energy, recycling, chemical & metal
processing and mining projects.
