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@article{190905,
        author = {Mohamed Vajeebu Mohamed Hussain Pareeth},
        title = {Energy Storage Technologies for Desert Conditions: Battery Chemistries, Thermal Storage and Large-Scale Innovations},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {6527-6539},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190905},
        abstract = {Saudi Arabia’s targets 50% renewable electricity and over 130 GW of renewable, underpinned by rapid deployment of grid-scale energy storage. The Kingdom’s desert climate—characterized by high temperatures, dust, significant temperature fluctuations, and remote energy demands—presents distinct technical and economic challenges for storage systems. This paper reviews energy storage technologies appropriate for these conditions, with a focus on their deployment in Saudi Arabia. It assesses advanced battery chemistries (lithium-ion, sodium-based, and flow batteries), high-temperature electrochemical systems, and thermal energy storage solutions (including molten salt, sensible, and latent heat storage). The analysis addresses large-scale storage for both grid-connected and off-grid projects, including giga-scale solar-plus-storage and coastal tourism megaprojects such as AMAALA and NEOM. Recent national targets, such as 48 GWh of battery storage, underscore the sector’s strategic significance. The paper concludes with recommendations for research and policy to localize storage technologies, improve reliability, and support national decarbonization and energy security objectives.},
        keywords = {desert climate, battery energy storage system (BESS), thermal energy storage (TES), molten salt, phase change material, NEOM, AMAALA.},
        month = {January},
        }