Saudi Arabia plans 60GW of renewable energy by 2030

Saudi Arabia plans to install 60GW of renewable energy by 2030, an official has said in an interview with the UAE state news agency WAM.

Dr. Khalid bin Saleh Al Sultan, president of the King Abdullah Atomic and Renewable Energy City, said the plans would include 40GW of solar and 20GW made up of wind and other forms of clean energy. The move comes as part of a Saudi attempt to integrate more alternative energy sources under the framework of the KSA Vision 2030 and the National Transformation 2020 Programme.

Saudi Arabia and Japanese firm Softbank made headlines last year with their announcements of a 200GW solar plan, but the Middle Eastern nation rejected later reports that the plans were on hold.

News emerged last week that China-based firm Huawei had been chosen by Saudi firm ACWA Power as the sole inverter supplier for the 300MW Sakaka plant, the first large-scale solar project Saudi Arabia, won with a record-low bid in early 2018.

Tags: saudi arabia, middle east, pv power plants, procurement, policy