Saudi Arabia invited bids recently for a “utility-scale” 300-megawatt solar project, a first for the world’s top oil exporter.
“Today’s bid opening represents a significant milestone for the National Renewable Energy Program, and animportant step on the way to diversifying Saudi Arabia’s domestic energy mix and building a cutting edge domestic renewable energy sector,” Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said.
Bidders for the Sakaka solar energy project—to be located in the country’s northern Al-Jouf region—will be shortlisted on November 28, a government press release said.
The renewable energy program also envisions a 400-megawatt wind power facility in Al-Jouf.
The kingdom has already shortlisted 25 companies—including GE, Siemens and EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of the French public energy company—for that project, with bidding set to close in January 2018.
