PowerChina Guizhou Engineering Co., Ltd. has signed EPC contracts to develop two new solar power station projects in Saudi Arabia. The projects, named Al Masa’a (MAS) and Al Henakiyah 2 (AHK2), fall under the fifth round of solar projects under the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). This program is led and supervised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy.
The combined capacity of the two projects will be 1.75 gigawatts. The MAS project will be located 1.13 kilometers east of Dharghat Town in Hail Province and will have an installed capacity of 1,250 megawatts. The AHK2 project will be situated 36 kilometers southeast of Al Henakiyah Town in Medina Province, with an installed capacity of 500 megawatts.
The scope of the projects includes the design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operation of the photovoltaic power stations. Supporting infrastructure and maintenance are also part of the plan. These projects mark the first collaboration between Guizhou Engineering Company, SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co. Ltd., and EDF Renewables Middle East in the region.
Once operational, the MAS and AHK2 solar plants will generate 4.4 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. This energy will be enough to supply about 550,000 households with renewable energy.
The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with project developers in December 2024. These efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which focuses on developing a sustainable energy system that prioritizes low-carbon and efficient energy sources.
Saudi Arabia is also exploring other renewable energy initiatives. The Sakaka solar project, the country’s first utility-scale solar plant, has been operational since 2021, producing 300 megawatts of clean energy. Additionally, the Dumat Al Jandal wind farm in Al-Jouf Province generates 400 megawatts, serving over 70,000 households. The country is also advancing green hydrogen projects at NEOM to position itself as a leader in global renewable energy production.
