Saudi-based Acwa Power, a global leader in developing, constructing and operating power generation and desalination water plants in 11 countries, has won the contract to develop the first utility-scale renewable energy plant in the kingdom at an investment of SR993.7 million ($265 million).

Located in Al Jouf on a site spanning over six sq km, the Skaka IPP (independent power project) photovoltaic (PV) solar plant will generate 300 MW power, said a statement from Acwa Power.

It is the first of what will be a series of procurement within the visionary and ambitious Saudi national renewables programme aiming to produce 9.5 GW of renewable energy by 2023 as a first phase, it stated.

The 25-year power purchase contract was awarded for Acwa Power at a new world record tariff of 8.782 halala/kWh (US Cents 2.34/kWh), it added.

Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan, the chairman of Acwa Power, said: "We are proud to have set yet another world record tariff for PV power, now at home and are humbled to be entrusted with the first utility-scale renewable energy plant to be developed in the kingdom, which will be the foundation of the visionary ambitious national programme that seeks to maximise the utilisation of renewable energy sources, as defined by the National Transition Plan 2020 and the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030."

Abunayyan pointed out that winning the Skaka solar project in the kingdom is a spectacular addition to Acwa's record of successes and achievements in developing and implementing pioneering projects in the renewable energy sector in the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.

The Renewable Energy Projects Development Office (Repdo) under the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Repdo selected Acwa Power as the most competitive compliant offer from submissions made by consortiums of eight local and international bidders.

"This new project allows Acwa Power to bring to the kingdom our considerable expertise and capabilities to ensure the delivery of this first renewable energy project at the highest global standards of quality and efficiency," he added.

Paddy Padmanathan, the president and chief executive of Acwa Power, said: "We are very excited to have won this project, through such a rigorous transparent process at a new world record tariff."

"It will set the foundation for a robust and competitive market for renewable energy in the kingdom thus enabling Saudi Arabia to take advantage of all intrinsic valuable ingredients available to become a global hub for research, development, manufacture and investment in the rapidly transforming energy sector which is pivoting to increase the renewable energy content in the fuel mix of power generation," stated Pamanathan.
 
Thamer Al Sharhan, the managing director, said: "We are delighted to win this project, which rewards the efforts of our team to give Acwa Power the lead in the renewables sector in Saudi Arabia due to the significance of this project as a starting point for a promising, national programme enhancing the capabilities of the energy security system in the kingdom."

"It will help increase the local content of the power generation industry, especially those that rely on renewables, in addition to providing job opportunities for the young Saudi capabilities to qualify and equip them to operate, lead and develop one of the most important sectors on which the economic development in the kingdom depends, namely the sector of electricity production," he added.-TradeArabia News Service