Saudi Arabia seeks bids for 400 MW wind power project

Saudi Arabia has released the request for proposals for a 400 megawatt wind power project in Dumat Al Jandal, Al Jouf region.

The request was issued by the country’s renewable energy project development office (REPDO), which said the project is its first utility-scale wind power project within the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).

A total of 25 companies have qualified for the REF stage as either “managing members” or “technical members” or both, REPDO said in a statement.

Bidding for the project is set to close in January 2018. Technical criteria for round one of NREP projects include a 30 percent local content requirement.

“Round two of the NREP will be launched before the end of this year, keeping us firmly on track to deliver 9.5GW of renewable energy by 2023,” Khalid Al-Falih, minister of energy, industry and mineral resources, said in the statement.

Round one of the NREP also comprises a 300 MW solar PV (photovoltaic system) in Sakaka, Al Jouf region, for which the bid opening will take place on October 3; and winning bids will be announced on November 27. 

The Dumat Al Jandal and Sakaka projects are 100 percent private independent power producer (IPP) programs, which will be backed by 20 and 25-year power purchase agreements, respectively, REPDO said.