As announced earlier in February 2017, the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia has launched the first phase of its renewable energy tenders, as part of the Kingdom's US$30-50bn renewable energy programme by 2023: a tender for 400 MW of wind projects at Midyan in the Tabuk province and another one for 300 MW of solar projects at Sakaka in the Al Jouf province.
Pre-qualified bidders (application deadline on 20 March 2017) will be allowed to enter the Round 1 phase, to be launched in April 2017. The requests for qualifications process expected to close in July and the contracts should be awarded in September 2017. The projects will be supported by long-term power purchase agreements (25-year for solar PV projects and 20-year for wind projects).
Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its energy mix, to generate much of its additional future energy consumption from non-fossil fuels and to keep its oil resources for exports to boost foreign exchange reserves. The kingdom targets a renewable power capacity of 3.45 GW by 2020 and 9.5 GW by 2023.
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