Saudi Arabia’s principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), has announced the qualified developers for the seventh round of solar and wind projects under the National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP), which is led and supervised by the Ministry of Energy.

Round seven of the NREP comprises solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind independent power producer (IPP) projects with a combined capacity of 5,300MW.

Wind IPPs

For the wind IPPs, SPPC said the qualified developers in the managing and technical member category include:

• Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar)
• Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia)
• EDF Power Solutions (France)
• Kahrabel (Engie) (UAE / France)
• Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
• Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China)
• Goldwind Science & Technology (China)
• Sembcorp Utilities (Singapore)
• TotalEnergies Renewables (France)
• DL Energy (South Korea)
• China Longyuan Power Group (China)
• Envision Energy (China)
• WahajPeak Holdings (Saudi Arabia)

The companies that qualified only as a managing member include:

• Saudi Electricity Company (Saudi Arabia)
• SPIC Shanghai Electric Power (China)
• Al-Jomaih Energy & Water (Saudi Arabia)
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) (South Korea)
• GD Power Development (China)
• Gulf Development Public Company (Thailand)

The two companies that qualified as technical members only are Nesma Renewable Energy (Saudi Arabia) and Grupo Empresarial Enhol (Spain).

Solar PV IPPs

For the solar PV IPPs, SPPC said the qualified developers in the managing and technical member category include:

• Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) 
• Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia)
• Al-Gihaz Holding Company (Saudi Arabia)
• EDF Power Solutions (France)
• Kahrabel (Engie) (UAE / France)
• Sembcorp Utilities (Singapore)
• Jinko Power (HK) (China)
• TotalEnergies Renewables (France)
• Al-Jomaih Energy & Water (Saudi Arabia)
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) (South Korea)
• Nesma Renewable Energy (Saudi Arabia)
• Korea Western Power (South Korea)
• Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
• SPIC Shanghai Electric Power (China)
• WahajPeak Holdings (Saudi Arabia)
• FAS Energy for Trading Company (Saudi Arabia)

The companies that qualified only as a managing member include:

• Saudi Electricity Company (Saudi Arabia)
• Grupo Empresarial Enhol (Spain)
• Power Construction Corporation of China (Power China) (China)
• GD Power Development (China)
• Gulf Development Public Company (Thailand)
• Reliance NU Energies Private (India)

SPPC launched the request for qualifications (RFQ) in September for the following projects under round seven of the NREP:

• 1,400MW Tabjal 2 solar PV IPP (Tabrijal, Al-Jouf province)
• 600MW Mawqqaq solar PV IPP (Mawqqaq, Hail province)
• 600MW Tathleeth solar PV IPP (Tathleeth, Aseer province)
• 500MW South Al-Ula solar PV IPP (Al-Ula, Medina province)
• 1,300MW Bilgah wind IPP (Bilgah, Medina province)
• 900MW Shagran wind IPP (Shagran, Medina province)

The renewable energy programme aims to supply 50% of the kingdom's electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

Earlier rounds under the NREP have already put in place large capacities. In October, SPPC awarded contracts to develop and operate five renewable energy projects under round six of the NREP.

These comprise four solar PV IPP projects and one wind IPP project with a total combined capacity of 4,500MW.