Saudi Arabia has awarded 4.5 GW of new solar and wind capacity in the sixth round of the National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP), according to the Saudi Press Agency. Five projects—one wind and four solar—were selected, with total investments estimated at SAR 9 billion (US$2.4 billion), the agency reported.
Masdar won two solar projects: the 1.4 GW Najran plant with a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of US$1.1c/kWh – reported as the country’s second-lowest solar tariff after Shuaiba 1 – and the 600 MW Ad Darb project in Jazan at US$1.36c/kWh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In Jazan, the 600 MW Samtah solar project by Saudi Electricity Company and EDF posted an LCOE of US$1.49c/kWh, the agency said. In Hail, the 400 MW Sufun solar project by Al Jomaih Energy & Water Company (AEW) and TotalEnergies Renewables came in at US$1.51c/kWh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The 1.5 GW Dawadmi wind project in Riyadh Province – developed by KEPCO, Nesma Renewable Energy Company, and Etihad Water and Electricity Company – set a national record for the lowest wind power price at US$1.33c/kWh, the agency reported.
With these awards, Saudi Arabia expects total renewable capacity to reach 43.2 GW, including 12.3 GW already connected to the national grid, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
