Saudi Arabia’s new green energy tender sets sights on 1.2GW PV pipeline

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image credit: Edward Musiak / Flickr

Saudi Arabia has pressed ahead with its renewable energy programme, launching proceedings for a PV-only new round even as the earlier phase has yet to allocate contracts.

On Thursday, the Middle Eastern kingdom said the third round of its green energy tender scheme will pick developers for four solar projects, representing a combined 1.2GW of PV capacity.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The third tender’s two-tiered design will see 200MW of the 1.2GW portfolio developed in the form of two ‘Category A’ plants, dubbed Layla (80MW) and Wadi Al Dawaser (120MW).

The Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) – the state agency running the tenders – said the other 1GW will be split between 'Category B' Ar Rass (700MW) and Saad (300MW).

REPDO has initiated the round-three process by releasing a request for qualifications, open until 6 February. A request for proposals may be launched on 19 March.

The Kingdom of the rising sun

The series of tenders, known as Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), kicked off in 2017 with a first round targeting both PV (300MW) and wind (400MW) projects.

The solar, representing SAR 1.2 billion (US$320 million) Sakaka, was contracted to ACWA Power and linked to the grid late last year. The 400MW wind project remains under construction.

When it released NREP’s second round last July, Saudi Arabia was more ambitious – targeting the contracting of 1.47GW all in all – and limited the scope to only PV projects.

Almost six months after its launch, the second round has yet to pick its tender winners. Depending on project size, developers have until 20 January or 3 February to table round-two bids.

Consultants believe Saudi Arabia is set to become one of score of solar “growth engines”, with predictions that the kingdom will go on to install 1-5GW of PV every year by 2024.

Read Next

October 3, 2025
Renewables developer Madison Energy Infrastructure has bought the US distributed generation assets of NextEra Energy Resources.
October 3, 2025
Chinese government policies and supply-side production cuts will drive a significant increase in solar and storage component costs.
Premium
October 2, 2025
Australia's solar sector delivered a strong September performance in the National Electricity Market (NEM) as the country entered spring, with combined solar PV generation reaching 3,933GWh - a 17.83% increase from August's 3,338GWh.
October 2, 2025
Spanish waste management company Trabede and energy firm Greening Group will build a solar module recycling plant in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.
October 2, 2025
The European solar sector will lose around 5% of its jobs in 2025, the first contraction in employment for the sector in nearly a decade.
October 2, 2025
PV products using perovskite technology could assume a dominant position within the next ten years, according to module producer Qcells' CTO.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland