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together an environment-friendly hydrogen-based ammonia production facility in Saudi Arabia's NEOM with the intent of turning the area right into an environment-friendly

range of pre-development studies for seven planned solar photovoltaic parks in Saudi Arabia. These projects, located in the Tabuk and Duba regions, would directly

300MW solar project in Saudi Arabia has actually reached financial close. China-headquartered Jinko Solar is establishing the 300MW Saad project. Lenders to the

Saudi Arabia's Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) has actually released a listing of the prequalified prospective buyers for the 1.2 GW solar tender it introduced in late January. The checklist includes 49 prospective buyers, consisting of several of one of the most popular gamers in the worldwide solar sector. France's EDF as well as Total Solar will certainly take part, as will certainly Spain's Solarpack, Acciona and also TSK. Germany's ib vogt is likewise on the listing, as is China's Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar as well as GCL. South Korea's Kepco will certainly likewise complete, in addition to Japan's Marubeni. Furthermore, Saudi Arabian utility ACWA Power is likewise taking part, in addition to UAE-based Masdar, U.S. module maker First Solar and also Indonesian utility Tenaga Nasional. REPDO will certainly make use of the 3rd round of the kingdom's National Renewable Energy Program to pick designers to create 4 solar energy projects, with generation abilities of 80 MW, 120 MW, 300 MW, and also a monstrous 700 MW. The Saudi federal government has actually mentioned that the chosen projects should have at the very least 17% regional material. In March, REPDO stated that the 2nd round of the program-- created to designate 1.5 GW of large solar ability-- drew in 250 prospective buyers. In the preliminary of the purchase program, REPDO appointed 300 MW of solar capability to a solitary center: the Sakaka solar project, which is currently functional.

Greater than 106 consulting companies and contractors have actually been approved in Saudi Arabia to develop distributed solar photovoltaic or pv (PV) systems for households as well as small companies after the regulatory framework for renewable resource systems for self-consumption was launched last November.

quarter of 2024. The project was granted to Jinko Power in the third round of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) auction. The solar plant has a

Saudi Arabia has actually introduced the shortlisted prospective buyers of the 2nd round of its National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) tender, that includes 4 solar plants amounting to 1.4 GW, along with an additional purchase round for 2 PV centers equating to 70 MW. Possible designers sent 4 bids for the initial of both tenders, which was introduced in July, the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) stated. The effective prospective buyers will certainly be granted 25-year power acquisition arrangements. Al-Faisaliah. Both least expensive prospective buyers for the biggest of the plants, the 600 MW Al-Faisaliah PV IP project, were exceptionally close, REPDO stated, keeping in mind that the distinction in the levelized price of power was within the analytical margin of mistake. Therefore, the Saudi Ministry of Energy chose to wage a with a Best and also Final Offer (BAFO). Both picked consortia-- led by Saudi power business ACWA Power as well as UAE-based solar developer Masdar, specifically-- will certainly not need to send a last deal. The BAFO is a purchase approach that is frequently made use of when the examination professionals figure out that the cost might or need to be much better, or when some aspects of a deal are complex as well as require to be a lot more plainly specified. " The outcomes of the quotes in regard of Al-Faisaliah PV IPP will certainly be introduced in April 2020 after conclusion of the BAFO," REPDO claimed. Jeddah. REPDO has actually shortlisted 2 consortia for the 300 MW Jeddah PV IPP project. The initial team, that includes Masdar as well as French utility EDF, supplied an LCOE of SAR0.0609042/ kWh. The various other team, led by ACWA Power, sent a proposal of SAR0.06215/ kWh. Rabigh. For the 300 MW Rabigh PV IPP project, the shortlisted prospective buyers were Japanese trading titan Marubeni, which supplied SAR0.06381138/ kWh, as well as a consortium led by ACWA Power, which suggested an LCOE of SAR0.06597/ kWh. Qurrayat. For the 200 MW Qurrayat PV IPP project, the most affordable quote was sent by ACWA Power at SAR0.06688/ kWh. The 2nd shortlisted prospective buyer, French oil manufacturer Total, used SAR0.0678555/ kWh. REPDO likewise disclosed that the shortlisted prospective buyers for 2 even more solar projects, completing 70 MW. Madinah as well as Rahfa. For the 50 MW Madinah PV IPP project, the Saudi authorities shortlisted 2 consortia led by Al Blagha Holding and also U.S. module producer First Solar, specifically. The initial team provided an LCOE of SAR0.0727533/ kWh, while the 2nd provided SAR0.011.35/ kWh. For the 20 MW RafhaPV IPP project, REPDO shortlisted the very same consortia. l Blagha Holding provided SAR0.0130772/ kWh, while First Solar proposal SAR0.01904/ kWh. The 2nd round of the program at first attracted 250 prospective buyers. In July, REPDO stated the variety of prospective buyers it had actually tightened the prospective buyers to 60 business, consisting of 28 that were based in Saudi Arabia. In the preliminary of the purchase program, REPDO designated 300 MW of solar ability to a solitary center, the Sakaka solar project which is currently functional. That very first tender attracted international focus by bring in the most affordable solar power cost ever before quote, with French power titan EDF using to produce solar energy for an LCOE of SAR0.06697/ kWh. The quote was turned down, nevertheless, with Saudi power titan ACWA Power inevitably winning with a deal of SAR0.08872/ kWh. The 3rd round of the program-- planned for alloting one more 1.2 GW of PV-- was released in January.

consortium of local, regional and international banks. The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s energy transition strategy to support the government’s vision

its experience and understanding in the worldwide renewables market back to Saudi Arabia. "The project will motivate Saudi companies to take part in the application

business version. "We are now well-positioned to catch substantial chances in Saudi Arabia along with in appealing markets globally, including utility-scale green

on further projects throughout India and also the Middle East." The win for Saudi Arabia comes also as LONGi sales in India have been badly interfered with by the 40%

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed joint venture agreements with Chinese companies to localize the manufacturing of solar and wind power equipment in the country. The partnerships aim to establish manufacturing capacities of 4 GW for wind turbines, 10 GW for solar cells and modules, and 20 GW for solar ingots and wafers annually. These agreements are part of PIF's efforts to advance renewable energy production in Saudi Arabia and meet local content commitments, with a focus on increasing the share of local production in renewable projects by 2030.The joint ventures involve PIF's Renewable Energy Localization Company (RELC) and Vision Industries, with Chinese companies Envision Energy and TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co Ltd as key partners. These initiatives are expected to bring advanced technologies to the renewable energy sector in Saudi Arabia, positioning the country as an exporting hub for renewable products and services. What are the goals of Saudi Arabia's joint ventures with Chinese companies in renewable energy? Localize manufacturing of solar and wind power equipment in Saudi Arabia Establish manufacturing capacities of 4 GW for wind turbines, 10 GW for solar cells and modules, and 20 GW for solar ingots and wafers annually Advance renewable energy production in Saudi Arabia Meet local content commitments and increase the share of local production in renewable projects by 2030 Bring advanced technologies to the renewable energy sector in Saudi Arabia Position Saudi Arabia as an exporting hub for renewable products and services

Works on a 30-MW solar farm in the region of Haradh in eastern Saudi Arabia have actually been settled after numerous hold-ups, and also the plant will certainly begin delivering power to the National Agricultural Development Co (TADAWUL:6010), or NADEC, under a power acquisition contract (PPA).

Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy sector over the years can be best described as a roller coaster. Just when momentum seemed to be building, the ride came to a halt. Then it began to move, but never really gave potential investors the confidence needed for serious acceleration. Progress started to take shape in 2016 and has continued, showing that this time is different.   Yet, to understand how the country got to where it is today, it’s important to know where Saudi Arabia has been, and that stems all the way back to 1977.   Memory lane   Much like the creation of the national oil company Saudi Aramco — formed between the United States and Saudi Arabia — solar power has been explored as part of a bilateral partnership between the two countries. Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Science and Technology (now known as the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology or KACST) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) struck a deal four decades ago for the Saudi Solar Village Project. The five-year agreement included $50 million from both countries and was extended for three more years. What resulted was a 350 kW solar PV system located 50 kilometers from Riyadh, as well as an additional 350 kW solar hydrogen demonstration plant.   The system operated well for its time, but the technology was nowhere near where it is today, which resulted in panel degradation of 20%. Operating temperatures were much higher than originally specified, and the heat sink insufficient for cooling.   From there continued a list of projects, including solar-powered water desalination, solar hydrogen utilization, solar water heating, and other PV research projects.   In 1990, the Persian Gulf War erupted and once again, Saudi Arabia saw solar power come via the United States. Solar panels were used to power GPS satellites, but just like the problem seen in the solar village, modules again quickly deteriorated in the harsh desert conditions.   There is little doubt that these observations helped shape the kingdom’s solar PV sector — and industry in general — but it would still take many years before substantial movement could be seen.   Broken promises   In April 2010, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) was established to be the “driving force for making atomic and renewable energy an integral part of a national sustainable energy mix.”   K.A.CARE’s target was to have 41 GW of renewable energy by 2032, with 16 GW of solar PV. In 2011, a contract was signed to establish a polysilicon plant in Jubail, which would begin the production of solar cell materials. Polysilicon Technology, alongside Hyundai Engineering and KCC Engineering and Construction, announced that it would build a $380 million plant to produce 3,350 metric tons of solar-grade polysilicon, with future expansion plans. This was one of many announcements that failed to materialize, as developer Polysilicon Technology later went bankrupt, according to local sources.   K.A.CARE went a step further in February 2013, when it published a white paper that announced a new renewable energy target of 54 GW by 2032 (41 GW was to be solar). And in the first five years, it planned for 5.1 GW to be installed, with 23.9 GW by 2020. The white paper has since been removed from the organization’s website, and K.A.CARE’s renewable energy ambitions disappeared along with it, as it began to focus more on nuclear power.   The new crown prince   Volatility in oil prices began in 2014, and it forced the country to broadly rethink its economic policies.   As Saudi Arabia grappled with the new normal of low oil prices, then deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, released a new economic vision for the country. The National Transformation Plan, part of the wider Vision 2030 agenda, was launched in 2016. It included a target to have 9.5 GW of solar and wind power feeding electricity into the national grid by 2023. It was understandable that the plan was met with leeriness, considering previous attempts to jump-start a renewable energy market in the country, but this time was different. This was the first time that Saudi Arabia had a government mandate to incorporate renewable energy into its overall energy mix.   In 2017, the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) was created, featuring members from K.A.CARE, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, and the Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority. The new unit fell under the energy ministry’s oversight, and immediately began accepting applications from companies that were looking to participate in the development of 700 MW of solar and wind capacity projects.   Local company ACWA Power came in with the winning bid for the first utility-scale solar PV plant, Sakaka, at $0.0234/kWh. “PV is a no-brainer in our part of the world [to supply] a significant source of load,” said ACWA chief executive officer Paddy Padmanathan.   Yet what was also significant was how REPDO announced the winning bids, which was done via live stream. This showed a level of transparency that isn’t seen anywhere else in the region’s renewable energy sector.   In November 2018, Saudi Arabia’s first utility-scale solar PV project began construction, with more than 1.18 million modules and 1,200 new jobs. The Sakaka solar power plant began a new era in the kingdom, heralding a “more to come” drive with at least seven projects to be tendered in this year alone. And people started to believe it. In fact, Padmanathan said that throughout the region, more companies are jumping into the market — and they’re looking at Saudi Arabia. He estimates that over the past five years, there has been growth of 20% of new market players trying to get into the Middle East’s solar sector.   “Within the next five years, there will be a real race to deploy as much PV as possible throughout the region,” Padmanathan added.   And Saudi Arabia is a market mover for any sector, given its size and population of almost 33 million. So much so that many companies separate Saudi Arabia from their regional reports so that its size doesn’t skew results. The potential for the kingdom’s solar industry, coupled with its goal of creating a manufacturing hub, is enough to once again entice investors.   “We’ve been pushing anyone we’ve worked with for many years saying, ‘If you want to work with us and want to capture meaningful volumes — industrialize inside the kingdom,’” said Padmanathan.   Earlier this year, a Saudi consortium made up of the National Industrial Clusters Development Program and petrochemical giant SABIC, signed a memorandum of understanding with Longi Group and OCI for the development of a fully integrated solar manufacturing facility in the country. And such decisions may create momentum for others to move, particularly considering a potentially more favorable policy framework.   Gus Schellekens, a partner at the clean energy division of the consultancy EY, said that Saudi Arabia today is very different than pre-Vision 2030.   “New businesses are being set up that are very different to the old world that delivered success for the past 40 years,” Schellekens explained. Yet Saudi Arabia is still finding its footing. The head of REPDO, Turki Al Shehri, recently left the organization to join France’s Engie as the chief executive of Saudi Arabia. There has so far been no announcement about a replacement and sources have said that the energy ministry is instead looking to create a more centralized system.   It’s never an easy road when introducing a new model or system on a large scale, especially if people continue to focus on previous mistakes. “In the long run, there remains huge potential for Saudi Arabia, but it’s important to acknowledge practical challenges, and build on a robust plan that is integrated with other initiatives,” Schellekens concluded.   Author LeAnne Graves   List of solar energy projects executed by KACST Projects Location Years Applications 350 kW PV system Solar Village 1981-87 DC/AC electricity for remote village 350 kW PV hydrogen production plant Solar Village 1987-93 Demonstration plant for hydrogen production Solar cooling Saudi Universities 1981-87 Development of solar cooling laboratory 1 kW solar hydrogen generator Solar Village 1983-93 Hydrogen production, testing, measurement laboratory scale 2 kW solar hydrogen (50 kWh) KAU, Jeddah 1986-91 Testing electrode materials for solar hydrogen plant 3 kW PV test system Solar Village 1987-90 Demonstration of climactic effects 4 kW PV system South of Saudi Arabia 1996 DC/AC grid connected 6 kW PV system Solar Village 1996-97 Grid connection Water desalination with PV (0.6m3/hour) Sadous Village 1994-96 PV/RO interface PV in agriculture (4 kWp) Muzahmia 1996 DC/AC grid connected Long-term performance of PV (3 kW) Solar Village Since 1990 Performance evaluation Fuel cell development (100 – 1000 W) Solar Village 1993-95 Hydrogen utilization Internal combustion engine (ICE) Solar Village 1993-95 Hydrogen utilization Solar radiation measurement 12 stations 1994-95 Saudi Solar Atlas Wind energy measurement 5 stations 1994-95 Saudi Solar Atlas Geothermal power assessment Various locations 1995-96 Establishment of accurate resource data Solar dryers Al-Hassa, Latif 1988-93 Food dryers (dates / vegetables etc.) Solar thermal dishes (2×50 kW) Solar Village 1986-94 Advanced solar Sterling Engine Energy managment in buildings Dammam 1988-93 Energy efficiency Solar collector development Solar Village 1993-97 Domestic, industrial, agricultural

banks for the construction of three large-scale solar power plants in Saudi Arabia, totaling 5.5 GW in capacity. The projects include the 2-GW Haden, 2-GW