Desert Technologies plans to establish a solar cell and module assembly plant in Saudi Arabia with a significant annual capacity of 5GW, split into 3GW for solar cells and 2GW for PV modules. The project, located in Jeddah’s Third Industrial City, represents an investment of SAR750 million (US$200 million) and spans 170,000 square meters.
This initiative is part of a broader trend in the Middle East, where solar PV manufacturing is expanding rapidly. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund signed agreements for 30GW of domestic solar manufacturing capacity, involving companies like Lumetech and JinkoSolar.
Neighboring Oman is also seeing significant developments, with United Solar Holding and Q-Sun Solar investing in polysilicon and solar cell factories, respectively. These projects highlight the region’s growing role in the global solar manufacturing landscape.
In related industry news, PV ModuleTech Europe 2024 will address challenges in the PV module supply chain and map out strategies for the future. This conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss product availability, technology offerings, and the traceability of supply chains.
Additionally, several significant projects are underway globally. Energy China is launching a 1GW solar project in Iraq, while Freyr Battery plans to acquire a 5GW module manufacturing facility in Texas. Meanwhile, Meyer Burger reports a substantial net loss, emphasizing the financial challenges facing some solar manufacturers.
These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the solar industry and the ongoing efforts to enhance production capacities and technological advancements worldwide.
