Saudi Arabia Approves Net Metering Program

• Saudi Arabia has launched a small scale solar PV net metering scheme
• Solar system capacities eligible for this scheme will be between 1 kW to 1 MW range
• Aggregate capacity of installations must be a maximum of 5 MW in any area of supply under the electricity department
• Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) has not given any approximate tariff that consumers will be eligible to claim

Saudi Arabia's Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) has approved a net metering scheme for solar power systems. Titled 'Small-Scale Solar PV Systems Regulations' the scheme will cover PV systems from 1 kW to 1 MW.

In the supply area of any electricity department, the combined capacity can be up to 5 MW. In a single premise, only one solar power system can be installed. Consumers will be responsible for maintenance and smooth functioning of the equipment.

Consumers in the residential, commercial, government and agriculture category will be given preference.

Official documents do not mention the date when the arrangement will legally come into force. ECRA has not shared any tariff for the net metering program so far.

The regulation is available on the website of ECRA.

While there was a lot of discussion of oil rich Saudi Arabia's solar plans for years, nothing really progressed in the country until it launched a 300 MW solar power tender in February. This was the first tender floated by the country's newly appointed Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM) – and the results are expected later this year (see Saudi Arabia Launches 300 MW Tender).