Saudi Arabia’s 1.5 GW tender attracted more than 250 companies

Officials at Saudi Arabia’s Renewable Energy Project Development Office may well already be processing a bidding bonanza after inviting proposals on Monday for the second phase of the kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).

The initiative concerns the development of seven PV projects in the kingdom with a combined generation capacity of 1,515 MW and a call for expressions of interest from developers in January attracted more than 250 responses, according to a report in Monday’s Saudi Gazette newspaper.

The Gazette reported – in an article carried by Reuters’ Zawya Middle Eastern news site – some 256 expressions of interest were received, including more than 100 from Saudi companies.

Saudi developer hopes

In a nation which has not shied away from rejecting bid proposals with lower electricity tariffs in favor of domestic businesses, Saudi developers will fancy their chances of getting a piece of a national initiative it is estimated will generate around $1.51 billion of investment.

The three largest NREP projects are near Jeddah: the 600 MW Al Faisaliah scheme and further 300 MW facilities at Rabigh and Jeddah itself. There will be a 200 MW project in Al Jawf province, near Qurayyat, a 50 MW scheme at Medinah and a 20 MW installation at nearby Mahad Duhab, and a 45 MW plant at Rafha in the Northern Borders province.

The opening phase of NREP – which is being organized under the nation’s Vision 2030 and King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative policy drives – procured 700 MW of renewables capacity, including the 300 MW Sakaka PV project.