The Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM) has awarded its Dumat Al Jandal wind project to a consortium led by EDF Energies Nouvelles and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar.
The US$500 million project will be Saudi Arabia’s first utility-scale wind farm, and is the second tender to be issued by MEIM as part of the National Renewable Energy Programme under the auspices of the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative which aims to diversify the country’s energy sector.
REPDO said it received four bids for the project from companies across five countries. The project was awarded based the levelized cost of energy of $2.13 cents/kWh, registering a new record-low price for a project of this type in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The award represents another significant step taken by Saudi Arabia towards creating a diversified power sector mix which puts renewable technologies at the forefront.
When completed, the $500 million Dumat Al Jandal wind farm will generate sustainable power for up to 70,000 Saudi households and is expected to create almost 1,000 jobs during construction and operation.
Dumat Al Jandal was chosen for the kingdom’s first utility-scale wind power project after predevelopment studies showed a strong mixture of wind capabilities on the site. The average annual generation from the wind plant is expected to be around 1.4 TWh.
The National Renewable Energy Programme is a strategic initiative under Vision 2030 and the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative. The program aims to maximise the potential of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia.