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RIYADH: ��������Ƶ invited bids on Tuesday for a “utility-scale” 300-megawatt solar project, a first for the world’s top oil exporter.
“Today’s bid opening represents a significant milestone for the National Renewable Energy Program, and an important step on the way to diversifying ��������Ƶ’s domestic energy mix and building a cutting edge domestic renewable energy sector,” Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said.
Bidders for the Sakaka solar energy project — to be located in the country’s northern Al-Jouf region — will be shortlisted on November 28, a government press release said.
The renewable energy program also envisions a 400-megawatt wind power facility in Al-Jouf.
The kingdom has already shortlisted 25 companies — including GE, Siemens and EDF Energies Nouvelles, a subsidiary of the French public energy company — for that project, with bidding set to close in January 2018.
��������Ƶ and other Gulf states have been examining ways to cut their energy bills and diversify their power sources away from oil, their main export commodity.
Riyadh has set a target of 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023.
Virtually all of ��������Ƶ’s power currently comes from crude or refined oil or natural gas.
Its renewable energy program is estimated to be worth up to $50 billion.