Shoals has announced a non-binding MoU with Saudi Arabia’s UUES for local manufacturing
It will include local supply of Shoals’ plug-and-play, prefabricated EBOS solutions that have been useful for US developers
UUES said such solutions will speed up installation time and avoid installation failures
US-based electrical balance of system (EBOS) solutions provider Shoals Technologies Group plans to explore the Saudi Arabian market to localize EBOS manufacturing in the Middle East region. For this, it has partnered with the wastewater treatment company United Utilities Environmental Services (UUES) of Saudi Arabia.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has planned to develop up to 130 GW of renewable power generation in the next six years, with solar power being a significant portion. In a market that lacks the trade skills required to execute on this ambitious target, Shoals believes its plug-and-play, prefabricated EBOS solutions will help to accelerate this development,” stated Shoals.
The product localization will include solutions that Shoals said have been successful in the US at improving the reliability of utility-scale projects and improving the internal rate of return (IRR) for developers. Such solutions, it claims, eliminate the need for a skilled workforce to install EBOS on utility-scale solar projects.
While the official statement does not specify the annual capacity, investment or location of the planned production plans, the duo has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the market.
“Shoals’ approach of pre-designing and pre-fabricating the solar EBOS will greatly speed up installation time and avoid installation failures that have plagued the region,” added UUES CEO Samer Mazloum.
In February 2024, Shoals said it will relocate to a larger facility within Portland, Tennessee to increase its production capacity, which at the end of Q3 2023 was a combined 35 GW across its 2 US locations (see Eyeing Growth, Shoals Technologies Group To Expand).
Saudi Arabia is coming up as the new hub of solar PV manufacturing as the country recently signed contracts for a total 40 GW of solar ingot, wafer, cell, and module manufacturing in the country with Chinese companies (see 20 GW Solar Ingot, Wafer Manufacturing Fab In Saudi Arabia).
Earlier in April 2024, Shoals’ compatriot GameChange Solar entered a strategic partnership with China’s Jiangsu Zhenjiang New Energy Equipment for a solar tracker fab in Saudi Arabia with up to 5 GW capacity (see US Solar Tracker Company Expanding Into Saudi Arabia).