Saudi Arabia Launches 3.3 GW Renewables Tender

• SPPC has launched a tender for a total of 3.3 GW renewable energy capacity in Saudi Arabia
• Of the total capacity, 1.5 GW is to come from solar with 2 solar farms of 1.1 GW and 400 MW capacity
• Wind power of 1.8 GW in the form of 3 projects will bring in remaining tendered capacity

The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) is seeking bidders to establish a total of 3.3 GW wind and solar power capacity in Saudi Arabia in the form of 5 projects in which solar's share is set as 1.5 GW, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The 1.5 GW solar capacity is to come from 1.1 GW PV plant in Al-Hinakiyah and another project with 400 MW capacity in Tubarjal. A total of 3 wind energy projects will bring in another 1.8 GW of the total capacity tendered.

The tendered projects form part of round 4 of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) projects being implemented by the country's Ministry of Energy. Under this, it aims to grow its solar energy capacity to 40 GW by 2030.

Under round 3 comprising 1.2 GW solar capacity, TotalEnergies offered the lowest bid of SAR 0.0700059 per kWh under category A and JinkoPower with SAR 0.0556255 per kWh for category B (see Saudi Arabia NREP Round 3 Shortlisted Bidders).

Fitch Solutions calls Saudi Arabia the solar power market to watch as it is expected to grow its aggregate solar capacity to over 5.6 GW by 2031 (see Saudi Arabia Solar Power 'Market To Watch').