Solar Energy Generation in Saudi Arabia

Solar investment

Saudi Arabia's solar market includes utility-scale plants, industrial installations and projects that combine generation with storage. Investment opportunities depend on the customer, site and route to market, as well as the technical design.

Sudair solar project

ACWA Power's 2024 annual report identifies Sudair as an operating solar PV plant with a capacity of 1,500 MW. Capacity measures the size of the plant; annual electricity generation depends on operating conditions and is measured separately.

Assessing a project

A feasibility study should test the site's solar resource, connection requirements, electricity demand and operating costs. Published tariffs from large procurement rounds should not be used as an assumed price for an industrial rooftop or off-grid project.

Storage and grid integration also affect the investment case. Their value depends on the demand profile, system design and the commercial arrangements for using or selling electricity.

Financing

SIDF's renewable energy financing programme covers eligible renewable energy developers and component manufacturers, as well as distributed solar projects. The applicable financing terms and documentation need to be checked for the proposed project.