Saudi Arabia has hired Paris-based engineering group Assystem to conduct pre-development studies for seven photovoltaic parks in the Tabuk and Duba regions to power the kingdom’s Neom economic development zone.

In all, the solar parks stretch over 420 sq km, potentially providing more than 20GW of generating capacity, Assystem said.

The company will do site assessment studies, preliminary design, master planning, environmental and social impact assessments, and permitting studies.

It noted that the International Energy Agency calculates that solar is set to account for the largest share of power generated by 2027.

“This project marks one of the first steps towards realising the deployment of solar PV on a truly massive scale,” said Kerem Sadiklar, Assystem’s head of siting and environmental services.