Saudi Arabia announces 3.7 GW solar tender

Saudi Power Procurement Co. (SPPC) has announced a request for qualification (RFQ) in relation to 3.7 GW of solar across four projects, as part of the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government’s renewable energy tender program.

SPPC said this week that four solar projects in Saudi Arabia, comprising 3.7 GW, has been given RFQ status as part of the fifth round of the Saudi Arabian government’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).

According to the press release, the plants include the 2 GW Al Sadawi plant located in the country’s east and the 1 GW (AC) Al Masa’a project located in northern Hail province. It also includes the 400 MW (AC) Al Henakiyah 2 plant located in western Madinah province and the 300 MW (AC) Rabigh 2 array located in western Makkah province.

Projects will be overseen by SPPC – the government-owned entity tasked with procuring electricity from independent power producers – which will be responsible for the predevelopment, tendering and subsequent “offtaking” of energy, SPPC said in the announcement.

The projects comprise one-quarter of all energy capacity (12.6 GW) awarded as part of the NREP renewable energy program. NREP, according to its website, is designed to “maximize” the country’s renewable energy potential.

The Saudi Arabian government aims to generate 27.5 GW of renewable energy by 2030, the country’s leading solar lobby group said. This is a significant leap ahead of the nation’s current installed capacity, which was estimated at 390 MW at the end of last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Association.