middle east

Mondragon Assembly close to commissioning production line for Arab International Optronics.

A consortium of Saudi-based developer ACWA Power and contractor AlGihaz have closed financing of the SAR1.2 billion (US$319 million) Sakaka solar project standing at 300MW in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia, a project that attracted headlines across the world last year after the government chose ACWA Power despite Masdar putting in the lowest ever solar bid.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has added 250MW of solar PV to its agreement with a consortium led by Saudi-based developer ACWA Power for capacity in the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is already one of the world’s largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) developments.

Streamlining red tape, ditching subsidies for bill payers and improving investment conditions could see Egypt become a multi-GW market for solar.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has rejected media reports that a multi-billion dollar solar programme has been halted.

The Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has launched a tender for up to 1.5GW of solar.

The Middle East and Africa is set to enjoy a year-on-year PV demand increase of 170%, according to GTM Research.

A Saudi Arabian conglomerate has taken a 50% stake in the German developer and PV investor Greencells.

Germany-based renewables firm IBC Solar has equipped two industrial companies in Lebanon with solar systems.

UAE-based developer Enviromena is pushing its project pipeline towards 1GW.