Dubai’s 900 MW solar tender sees lowest bid of $0.0169/kWh
The offer was apparently submitted by Saudi energy giant ACWA Power, which refused to confirm the bid when asked by pv magazine. The second lowest bid – $0.0175/kWh – was reportedly submitted by a consortium formed by Emirati developer Masdar, French utility EDF and Chinese PV panel maker Jinko Power.
ACWA Power offers African record low $0.02526/kWh for Ethiopian projects
Ethiopia has concluded the tender process for the first round of its Scaling Solar program. The winning bid is the lowest in the continent to date, according to the finance ministry.
The weekend read: Shedding light on PV in MENA
ACWA Power has an installed capacity of more than 1 GW of PV projects across MENA, Southern Africa, and Southeast Asia, and was awarded the landmark Sakaka Project – Saudi Arabia’s first utility scale PV project – which it began to construct in November 2018. pv magazine caught up with Paddy Padmanathan, CEO of the Saudi-based energy giant to discuss the Middle East’s growing solar markets.
Saudi Arabia reportedly reduces NREP phase II bidders to around 60 companies
More than 100 domestic developers were interested in the seven-project, 1.515 GW generation capacity second round of the kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Program. That number has been reduced to dozens, according to a briefing note, and a request for proposals is expected within weeks.
Saudi’s ACWA Renewables sells 49% stake to China’s Silk Road Fund
The Chinese state-owned infrastructure investment fund, which already has strong ties to the Saudi power company, will be a major shareholder in a Middle East and African clean energy portfolio that adds up to 1668 MW of generation capacity.
ACWA Power and Shanghai Electric deepen Belt and Road commitment
The two power companies, who worked together on the 700 MW concentrating solar power phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, have reportedly agreed to develop power generation and desalination projects along the route of China’s new Silk Road.
ACWA triumphs again in Middle Eastern tendering exercise
With no details reported on the final electricity price agreed for a 500 MW solar project to be built in Oman, speculation will center on whether the victorious Saudi power company and its Kuwaiti partners have again trumped lower offers from overseas rivals.
Dubai’s DEWA seeks proposals for phase V of 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
The utility has issued a request for qualification for a further 900 MW of PV at the huge solar park, which is set to reach a total capacity of 5 GW.
Developers in the dark over reported 25% hike in Benban investment costs
The association that represents developers operating at the 1,465 MW solar project in Egypt – due for completion in June – say they have been told nothing about a rumored rise in investment costs caused by more expensive construction materials.
Middle East solar pioneers have their efforts recognized
DEWA projects featured strongly in this year’s accolades but there was also recognition for projects beyond the region and some eye-catching innovations.
