Saudi Arabia Invites Bids for 3,200 MW Solar and Wind Projects

Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), the kingdom’s principal buyer of electricity, has issued a request for qualification (RFQ) for the eighth round of solar and wind power projects under the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), covering a combined capacity of 3,200 MW.

The eighth round comprises three projects, including two solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power producer (IPP) projects with a combined capacity of 1,900 MW and a 1,300 MW wind power project.

The solar projects include the 900 MW Tumair Solar PV IPP in the Riyadh Region and the 1,000 MW East Al Amoah Solar PV IPP in the Aseer Region. The wind project, Al Mozeraah Wind IPP, has a planned capacity of 1,300 MW and will be located in the Makkah Region.

SPPC, as the principal buyer, is responsible for conducting pre-development studies, managing the tendering of power generation projects and signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) and energy storage services agreements with project developers.

The NREP is led and supervised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy. The programme aims to increase the share of installed capacity from renewable energy sources and energy storage systems to around 50 percent of the kingdom’s energy mix by 2030, subject to electricity demand growth.