The Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM) has launched Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for seven solar PV projects during the launch of the National Industrial Development and Industrials Program (NILDP). The announcement represents the next phase in Saudi Arabia's ambitious renewable energy plans, which seek to achieve over 25GW of wind and solar power generation in the next five years, and close to 60GW over the next decade; of which 40GW will be generated from solar energy, with a further 16GW of onshore wind. With a combined generation capacity of 1.51 GW, the seven projects will supply enough energy to power 226,500 households. The total investment in the projects is expected to be worth $1.51 billion, creating over 4,500 jobs during construction, operations and maintenance. The projects include Qurrayat (200 MW), Madinah (50 MW), Rafha (45 MW), Alfaisaliah (600 MW), Rabigh (300 MW), Jeddah (300 MW) and Mahad Duhab (20 MW). The Kingdom aims to create over the next decade a global hub of renewable energy capability upwards of 200 GW, spanning the entire value chain from local manufacturing to project development, domestically and abroad. — SG
