Saudi Arabia has awarded contracts for one wind project and four solar projects under the sixth round of the National Renewable Energy Program. The projects will be developed by international and domestic consortia under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy.
The five schemes represent 4,500 MW of new capacity and more than SAR 9 billion (approximately US2.4 billion) in planned investment. The round includes the 1,500 MW Dawadmi Wind IPP in Riyadh Province, awarded to a consortium of Korea Electric Power Corporation, Nesma Renewable Energy and Etihad Water and Electricity Company. The project set a new record low levelised cost of wind energy at 1.33803 US cents per kWh.
Three solar projects were awarded in Jazan Province: the 600 MW Ad Darb plant to Masdar, the 600 MW Samtah plant to Saudi Electricity Company and EDF, and the 1,400 MW Najran project to Masdar, which recorded the second-lowest global solar tariff at 1.09682 US cents per kWh. The fifth project, the 400 MW As Sufun solar plant in Hail Province, went to Al Jomaih Energy & Water Company and TotalEnergies.
