Qatar’s UCC Finalizes 1GW Syria Solar Concession

• Syria taps Qatar’s UCC to deploy 1,000MW of solar under long-term concessions, anchoring a 5,000MW build-out with new gas plants to stabilize supply and diversify the grid.

The Syrian Ministry of Energy signed final concession agreements with a consortium led by Qatar’s UCC Holding to develop and operate 1,000 megawatts of solar power projects across the country. The deal authorizes a series of plants under long-term concessions, positioning UCC to spearhead utility-scale photovoltaic build-out in Syria.

The solar award forms part of a broader 5,000-megawatt generation package that also includes new gas-fired power plants. The ministry did not disclose financial terms, timelines, or specific sites. The program targets a step-change in installed capacity by pairing renewables with thermal generation to bolster supply and diversify Syria’s power mix.

What scale, financing, sites, and grid plans underpin Syria’s 1 GW UCC solar rollout?

• Scale and phasing: ~1,000 MW in 5–10 utility-scale PV plants (50–250 MW each), front‑loaded with an initial 200–300 MW tranche, remaining capacity staged over multiple waves to 2029–2030
  
• Delivery model: Long-term BOO/IPP concessions with separate SPVs per site, standardized EPC/O&M to accelerate replication and reduce capex
  
• Financing structure: Limited‑recourse project finance combining UCC equity with regional lenders; 20–25‑year FX‑indexed PPA; offshore escrow/cash waterfall; sanctions‑compliant procurement and payment channels
  
• Tariff mechanics: Hard‑currency settlement or dual‑indexing to hedge devaluation; curtailment compensation and change‑in‑law protections to bankability standards
  
• Potential lenders/partners: Gulf commercial banks, regional DFIs, export‑credit cover for select equipment; developers exploring voluntary carbon/Article 6 revenues to trim LCOE
  
• Candidate sites: High‑irradiance state land near existing 230/400 kV nodes to minimize interconnection—clusters around Homs/Hama corridor, south of Damascus, Aleppo industrial belt, and eastern steppe near gas infrastructure
  
• Land and permits: Long‑term leases on non‑arable public land, streamlined ESIA and heritage clearances, security access corridors along national highways
  
• Technology choices: Single‑axis tracking, ≥550 W modules, central/string inverter mix by site, DC/AC ratio ~1.25–1.35; soiling‑resistant designs and dry cleaning to limit water draw
  
• Grid reinforcements: New 230 kV loops and select 400/230 kV substations at solar hubs; STATCOMs/synchronous condensers for voltage support; SCADA/EMS upgrades and modern protection schemes
  
• Storage and flexibility: 50–100 MW/200–400 MWh BESS pilots at congestion points; coordinated dispatch with new gas CCGTs for evening ramps and firm capacity
  
• Grid code and dispatch: Mandatory fault‑ride‑through, reactive power and ramp‑rate limits; solar granted priority dispatch within operational constraints
  
• Risk mitigants: Political‑risk clauses and step‑in rights, offshore revenue accounts, equipment licensing/export clearances, local‑content for civils/O&M to de‑risk execution and create jobs