THE PROCUREMENT TAKEAWAY
Saudi Arabia's large storage projects and Vietnam's substation BESS programme illustrate two ways to add grid flexibility. Their milestones occurred at different times: NR Electric dates the Saudi SEC Phase III charging and discharging tests to 27 May 2026, while HSBC's financing announcement for EVNNPC is dated 27 October 2026.
For storage EPCs, developers and balance-of-system buyers, the useful comparison is the procurement structure: a large project interface on one side, and coordinated work at many existing utility sites on the other. Cable routes, termination details and delivery responsibilities need to be defined within each project's actual package boundaries.
01 / SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia: large plants and a separate procurement pipeline
Reported commissioning of SEC Phase III
NR Electric's project release states that the 2.5 GW Saudi SEC Phase III storage project completed grid-tied charging and discharging tests on 27 May 2026. It describes more than 2,000 power conversion system (PCS) units serving Riyadh, Rabigh, Dawadmi, Jouf and Qassim, with grid-forming functions including frequency and voltage regulation and black start.
Gulf Construction's account identifies BYD energy-storage technology and Alfanar Projects as EPC. These are source-attributed project descriptions. The commissioning milestone should be distinguished from any later procurement programme.
Orders and tender activity are different project stages
Gotion High-Tech announced a 6 GWh Saudi storage order covering three sites on 11 September 2026. Separately, July trade coverage reported that SPPC had prequalified 27 developers for a second group of six BESS projects totalling 3,000 MW / 12,000 MWh. The order, the prequalification group and the commissioned SEC cluster are separate developments. Gotion announcement; dated SPPC group coverage.
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Project / programme
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Published milestone
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SEC Phase III cluster
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2.5 GW; completion of grid-tied tests reported for 27 May 2026
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Power regions / conversion scope
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Five regions; more than 2,000 PCS units, per NR Electric
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EPC / battery technology
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Alfanar Projects / BYD, identified by Gulf Construction
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Gotion Saudi order
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6 GWh across three sites; company announcement dated 11 September 2026
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SPPC second BESS group
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3,000 MW / 12,000 MWh; six projects; 27 prequalified developers in July coverage
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KEEP MW AND MWH SEPARATE
GW / MW describes power; GWh / MWh describes energy. The SPPC group's published 12,000 MWh divided by 3,000 MW gives four hours at those nominal ratings. This calculation is not a statement about the duration of the separate 2.5 GW SEC cluster.
02 / VIETNAM
Vietnam: financing BESS at existing substations
The HSBC financing announcement
On 27 October 2026, HSBC Vietnam announced that it had arranged EVNNPC's debut offshore US$105 million syndicated green term loan. The proceeds support BESS units alongside existing 110 kV substations in northern Vietnam. HSBC states that the programme covers 70 existing substations, with an eight-year door-to-door tenor and participation from 15 lenders. Read HSBC's original release.
The lender describes the programme as supporting grid stability, reliability and growing electricity demand while reducing congestion and outage risk. A financing announcement establishes the financing purpose; individual procurement packages, installed capacities and acceptance status still need their own project records.
Repeatable interfaces, with site-specific checks
For suppliers, a multi-substation programme can create opportunities to standardize approved cable assemblies, markings, documentation and inspection procedures. Existing layouts, access constraints, outage windows and cable routes can still differ from site to site. A repeatable bill of materials needs controlled exceptions and clear installation boundaries.
PROCUREMENT STATUS
Financing announcements do not establish which installation packages remain open. Confirm eligibility, scope and deadlines in the utility's current procurement documents before preparing a bid.
03 / PROCUREMENT COMPARISON
What differs between the two project models
These examples suggest the procurement distinctions below. The comparison applies to the cited developments; project documents determine the requirements of each individual package.
On smaller screens, swipe the table horizontally.
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Dimension
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Saudi large-project examples
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Vietnam substation programme
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Project interface
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Large storage blocks with coordinated PCS, battery and EPC interfaces
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BESS installations at 70 existing utility substations
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Milestone to distinguish
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Commissioning, supplier order and developer prequalification
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Financing announcement and individual installation packages
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Buyer / package route
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Identify the appointed developer, EPC and their vendor requirements
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Confirm the utility's package structure and each tender's requirements
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Technical planning emphasis
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Plant control, grid-forming performance and many repeated equipment interfaces
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Approved repeatable designs, with site-specific installation and outage constraints
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Cable procurement task
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Release route, size and termination schedules against the plant design
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Control standard kits, site variations, labels and delivery sequencing
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Evidence before commitment
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Approved specifications, interface drawings and qualification requirements
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Package documents, site lists, technical acceptance and current eligibility rules
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Both models require DC and AC connections and protective earthing where specified, but they need not use the same cable types or approvals. Confirm whether each route is internal equipment wiring, a field-installed interconnection or part of the site distribution system before choosing a product.
04 / WHAT TO WATCH
Follow package releases and technical requirements
WATCH 01
Saudi procurement milestones
Track SPPC notices, awards and EPC appointments for the reported second group. Confirm the latest status and vendor route against the project owner's documents.
WATCH 02
EVNNPC installation packages
Watch the utility's official package lists, technical schedules and award notices. Do not infer a fixed 2027 tender sequence from the 70-site financing announcement.
WATCH 03
Grid-forming and interface requirements
Read the project-specific control, protection and acceptance requirements. The Saudi example does not establish an identical grid-forming requirement for Vietnam's programme.
05 / SINELINK CABLE SCOPE
The cable and connection scope to specify early
This article focuses on SINELINK's cable and connection options for storage-related projects: approved internal equipment wiring, LV distribution, pre-assembled connections, PV circuits where included, and earthing. The table is a selection starting point for separate projects; it is not a supplier list for the Saudi or EVNNPC programmes.
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Project scope
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Selection checks
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Relevant SINELINK page
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Approved internal BESS wiring
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For protected equipment wiring only when the end-product design accepts the exact AWM construction; confirm ratings, conductor size and terminations.
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Field interconnection between equipment
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Check route conditions, voltage, fault duty, environmental approvals and the required field-wiring cable type. Do not select solely from an AWM voltage rating.
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PV-side DC circuits, where included
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Select by PV design, stated standard, system voltage and certificate scope. PV cable is not a universal substitute for every BESS DC circuit.
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LV AC distribution
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Confirm voltage class, Cu / Al conductor, current rating, installation conditions and protective-device coordination.
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Pre-assembled connections
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Release cable construction, length, terminals, crimp tooling, identification and inspection requirements.
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Protective earthing / grounding
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Confirm cross-section, conductor identification, corrosion and installation exposure; request the exact product's environmental evidence.
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INTERNAL WIRING AND FIELD CABLE ARE DIFFERENT
The SINELINK UL 11627 page identifies the product as Appliance Wiring Material for internal equipment use. Outdoor trays, wet locations, burial and field-installed links require the appropriate additional ratings and approvals for the actual route. Check the product's application limits.
Information to include with a cable RFQ
Send the cable schedule, maximum circuit voltage, design current, route length and environment, conductor and insulation requirements, terminal details, required tests, quantities and delivery sequence. Approving the cable and termination interface alongside the PCS and battery drawings helps expose gaps before installation.
06 / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What is grid-forming BESS?
A BESS combines batteries with power-conversion and control equipment. Grid-forming control is designed to establish and regulate voltage and frequency behaviour. The cited Saudi supplier release lists functions such as frequency regulation, voltage regulation and black start; the implemented functions and tests depend on the project design.
What will EVNNPC use the US$105 million facility for?
HSBC says the green-loan proceeds finance BESS units alongside existing 110 kV substations in northern Vietnam, across a 70-substation programme. The loan announcement does not by itself specify the supplier awards or the commissioning status of each site.
Can foreign component suppliers enter either programme?
Entry depends on the current developer, EPC or utility qualification and package documents. Confirm the buyer, technical approval process, local requirements and contracting route for the particular package. These project announcements do not establish blanket supplier eligibility.
PREPARING A STORAGE CABLE PACKAGE?
Match the cable schedule
to the project interfaces.
Share your route conditions, cable list, termination details and delivery sequence. SINELINK can review relevant cable options and the documentation needed for your project.
Explore Energy Storage Cables →Discuss your cable package07 / SOURCE RECORD
Sources
NR Electric - SEC Phase III grid-connection tests, event dated 27 May 2026
Gulf Construction - BYD technology and Alfanar EPC attribution
Gotion - 6 GWh Saudi order, 11 September 2026
SolarQuarter - reported SPPC second-group prequalification, 2 July 2026
HSBC Vietnam - EVNNPC financing release, 27 October 2026
SINELINK - UL Style 11627 application scope