A tender process has led to a consortium of a Saudi developer and France-based TotalEnergies being awarded a license for a new solar power plant.
The license was issued by the Saudi Power Procurement Company. Aljomaih Energy & Water (AEW) and TotalEnergies, which makes the Total metalworking fluids, will now be able to progress with the As Sufun solar power plant. It is expected to have a capacity of 400 MW and start supplying energy to the grid by 2027.
Once connected to the grid, it will be able to power just under 70,000 homes. A power purchase agreement lasting 25 years will cover the produced electricity.
The plant forms part of a wider strategy to reduce the country’s electricity generation’s reliance on liquid fuels. By the end of the decade, the Saudi Vision 2030 sees storage and renewable energy providing as much as half the country’s electricity capacity.
The senior vice president for renewables at TotalEnergies, Olivier Jouny, said:
“Together with our partner Aljomaih Energy and Water Co, we are thrilled to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s target of increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix. This project marks the second success for our consortium in the Saudi National Renewable Energy Programme.”
He added that Saudi Arabia is a close collaborator with the company, which participates in prominent petrochemical and refining facilities in the country as part of its multi-energy strategy. Like many traditional oil majors, TotalEnergies is diversifying into renewable generation to provide clean energy to its customers.
