Saudi Arabia awards 4.5GW solar and wind projects

Saudi Arabia has awarded 4500MW of wind and solar capacity worth more than SAR9bn under the sixth phase of its National Renewable Energy Program.

The Ministry of Energy said the awards were made in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, minister of energy and chairman of the Saudi Power Procurement Company.

The Dawadmi wind energy project recorded a levelised cost of electricity of 1.33803 US cents per kWh, which the ministry said is a new world record low for wind generation.

Located in Riyadh Province, the 1500MW scheme was awarded to a consortium of KEPCO, Nesma Renewable Energy and Etihad Water and Electricity Company.

The ministry said the Najran solar project posted the world’s second-lowest solar LCOE at 1.09682 US cents per kWh, following the record set by the Shuaiba 1 project.

The 1400MW site in the Najran region is being developed by Masdar.

A 600MW solar plant at Ad Darb in Jazan Province was also awarded to Masdar at 1.36070 US cents per kWh.

A 600MW solar scheme at Samtah in Jazan Province was secured by a consortium of Saudi Electricity Company and EDF Power Solutions International at 1.48678 US cents per kWh.

A 400MW solar project at As Sufun in Hail Province went to a consortium of Al Jomaih Energy & Water Company and TotalEnergies Renewables at 1.50686 US cents per kWh.

The ministry said the tenders reflect the Kingdom’s leadership in competitive renewable pricing, citing strong financing and development frameworks.

It added that the Saudi Power Procurement Company is responsible for pre-development, tendering and signing PPAs.

The ministry said 43.2GW of renewable capacity is now signed, with 12.3GW already grid-connected, and total tenders will reach 64GW by the end of 2025.

More information:https://renews.biz/104993/saudi-arabia-awards-45gw-solar-and-wind-projects/