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Sudair Solar PV Project

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2025 - 2024

Public Private PartnershipsRenewable Energy

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Project Description

Approach Words: Sustainability, Urban Competitiveness, Urban Resilience

Public Policy Instruments: Financial Mechanism, Infrastructure, Organization, Physical Intervention

The Sudair Solar PV Project is a major renewable energy initiative in Sudair Industrial City, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Set to become one of the world’s largest single-contracted solar PV plants and the largest solar facility in the Kingdom,¹ the project was launched in April 2021 by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The project envision obtaining an essential role for diversifying the energy mix and accelerating the energy transition in the kingdom. ² It aims to supply electricity to 185,000 homes,³ offset nearly 2.9 million tons of CO2 annually,⁴ and achieve one of the world’s lowest solar electricity costs at USD 1.239 cents/kWh.⁵ The project alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Renewable Energy Program,⁶ and represents the first project under the PIF Renewable Energy Program, which seeks to develop 70% of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy by 2030 ⁷.

Title: Arial Photo of the Sudair Solar PV Project

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Title: Sudair Photovoltaic (PV) Plant, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia

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Title: Electricity offtake is secured by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA)

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Title: Large-scale solar power generation facility creating a sustainable energy for the Saudi kingdom

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Title: Arial Photo of the Sudair Solar PV Project

Source: Click Here

Title: Sudair Photovoltaic (PV) Plant, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia

Source: Click Here

Title: Electricity offtake is secured by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA)

Source: Click Here

Title: Large-scale solar power generation facility creating a sustainable energy for the Saudi kingdom

Source: Click Here

To implement these objectives, the 30.8 square kilometers park integrates several core components:⁸

450 MW solar plant using bi-facial technology ⁹
Single-axis tracking systems to optimize sunlight absorption and boost efficiency ¹⁰
Associated inverters and supporting electrical infrastructure ¹¹

In terms of sustainability, the project adopts bi-facial modules combined with single-axis tracking, reducing land use requirements while maximizing output.¹² It also incorporates advanced monitoring tools, including drones for terrain mapping and time-lapse cameras for construction oversight.¹³ A further innovation involves modified telehandlers that accelerate installation, enabling up to 19.5 MW of modules per day to be deployed.¹⁴

Owner/Developer (Public)

The project is developed and managed by a consortium led by ACWA Power, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel), and Saudi Aramco Power Company (SAPCO).¹⁵ Electricity generation is secured under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company. ¹⁶ Ownership of the special-purpose vehicle, Sudair One Renewable Energy Company, is divided as follows: ACWA Power (35%), Badeel (35%), and SAPCO (30%).¹⁷

Implementation Timeline
The project’s implementation followed a phased timeline:

Phase 1 (2022-2023): Initial commissioning and partial operation¹⁸
Phase 2 (July 2023): Achieved a generation record of 450 MW within one month¹⁹
Phase 3 (2024): Expected full completion and commercial operation ²⁰ ²¹Currently, in the final stages of commissioning, the Sudair Solar PV Project is already partially operational.²² Once completed, it will stand as one of the largest solar energy facilities globally, significantly advancing Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy transition and supporting national climate change mitigation goals.²³

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

Endnotes

References

Public Investment Fund. ‘The Public Investment Fund (PIF) reaches major milestone in renewable energy program with the launch of Sudair Solar PV project’. (2021). Official Press Release. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.pif.gov.sa/en/news-and-insights/press-releases/2021/solar-pv-project/>
ACWA Power. ‘ACWA Power announces financial close for 1500 MW Sudair’. (2021). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.acwapower.com/news/acwa-power-announces-financial-close-for-1500-mw-sudair-solar-plant-and-aramco-joining-the-consortium-under-pif-renewables-program/>
ACWA Power. ‘Sudair PV IPP’. (2021). Official Project Profile. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://acwapower.com/en/projects/sudair-pv-ipp/>
NOMAC. ‘Sudair PV IPP’. (2021). NOMAC Operations Profile. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.nomac.com/en/our-operations/nomac-globally/sudair-pv-ipp/>
Public Investment Fund. ‘The Public Investment Fund (PIF) reaches major milestone in renewable energy program with the launch of Sudair Solar PV project’. (2021). Official Press Release. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.pif.gov.sa/en/news-and-insights/press-releases/2021/solar-pv-project/>
Saudipedia. ‘Sudair Solar PV IPP’. (2024). Official Saudi Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://saudipedia.com/en/article/902/economy-and-business/projects/sudair-solar-pv-ipp>
Public Investment Fund. ‘The Public Investment Fund (PIF) reaches major milestone in renewable energy program with the launch of Sudair Solar PV project’. (2021). Official Press Release. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.pif.gov.sa/en/news-and-insights/press-releases/2021/solar-pv-project/>
L&T Construction. ‘1.5 GW Sudair Project is the largest Solar PV Plant in Saudi Arabia with PPA signed’. (2021). Corporate Press Release. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://corpwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/media/44396/2021-04-09-lt-construction-secures-major-green-epc-order-to-establish-one-of-the-world-s-largest-solar-pv-plants-by-capacity.pdf>
Nextracker. ‘Nextracker Solar Trackers and TrueCapture Machine Learning Software have been selected for 450 MW Sudair Solar Energy Project, Saudi Arabia’s Largest Solar Project’. (2022). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.nextracker.com/2022/03/nextracker-solar-trackers-and-truecapture-machine-learning-software-have-been-selected-for-450-mw-sudair-solar-energy-project-saudi-arabias-largest-solar-project/>
Nextracker. ‘Nextracker Solar Trackers and TrueCapture Machine Learning Software have been selected for 450 MW Sudair Solar Energy Project, Saudi Arabia’s Largest Solar Project’. (2022). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.nextracker.com/2022/03/nextracker-solar-trackers-and-truecapture-machine-learning-software-have-been-selected-for-450-mw-sudair-solar-energy-project-saudi-arabias-largest-solar-project/>
L&T Construction. ‘1.5 GW Sudair Project is the largest Solar PV Plant in Saudi Arabia with PPA signed’. (2021). Corporate Press Release. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://corpwebstorage.blob.core.windows.net/media/44396/2021-04-09-lt-construction-secures-major-green-epc-order-to-establish-one-of-the-world-s-largest-solar-pv-plants-by-capacity.pdf>
L&T ECC. ‘1.8 GWp SUDAIR SOLAR PV POWER PLANT, KSA’. (2024). ECC CONCORD. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.lntecc.com/media/lomcnxlx/sudair-solar.pdf>
L&T ECC. ‘1.8 GWp SUDAIR SOLAR PV POWER PLANT, KSA’. (2024). ECC CONCORD. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.lntecc.com/media/lomcnxlx/sudair-solar.pdf>
L&T ECC. ‘1.8 GWp SUDAIR SOLAR PV POWER PLANT, KSA’. (2024). ECC CONCORD. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.lntecc.com/media/lomcnxlx/sudair-solar.pdf>
ACWA Power. ‘ACWA Power announces financial close for 1500 MW Sudair solar plant and Aramco joining the consortium under PIF renewables program’. (2021). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.acwapower.com/news/acwa-power-announces-financial-close-for-1500-mw-sudair-solar-plant-and-aramco-joining-the-consortium-under-pif-renewables-program/>
DNV. ‘DNV advises Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) during the development of the 1.5 GW Sudair Solar PV plant’. (2021). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.dnv.com/news/2021/dnv-advises-saudi-power-procurement-company-sppc-during-the-development-of-the-1-5-gw-sudair-solar-pv-plant-199928/>
ACWA Power. ‘ACWA Power announces financial close for 1500 MW Sudair solar plant and Aramco joining the consortium under PIF renewables program’. (2021). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.acwapower.com/news/acwa-power-announces-financial-close-for-1500-mw-sudair-solar-plant-and-aramco-joining-the-consortium-under-pif-renewables-program/>
NOMAC. ‘Sudair PV IPP’. (2021). NOMAC Operations Profile. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.nomac.com/en/our-operations/nomac-globally/sudair-pv-ipp/>
L&T ECC. ‘1.8 GWp SUDAIR SOLAR PV POWER PLANT, KSA’. (2024). ECC CONCORD. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.lntecc.com/media/lomcnxlx/sudair-solar.pdf>
Nextracker. ‘Nextracker Solar Trackers and TrueCapture Machine Learning Software have been selected for 450 MW Sudair Solar Energy Project, Saudi Arabia’s Largest Solar Project’. (2022). Company News. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.nextracker.com/2022/03/nextracker-solar-trackers-and-truecapture-machine-learning-software-have-been-selected-for-450-mw-sudair-solar-energy-project-saudi-arabias-largest-solar-project/>
ACWA Power Company. ‘ACWA Power Company announces the start of Commercial Operation of Group 3 of Sudair Solar PV Project’. (2024). Saudi Exchange. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.saudiexchange.sa/wps/portal/saudiexchange/newsandreports/issuer-news/issuer-announcements/issuer-announcements-details/!ut/p/z1/lZFNU8IwEIZ_Cweu7NLaJHqLOJYyINRSgVycIBXihKRTAg7_3oAny8fg3nbzvPtmd0HAFISRO7WUTlkjtc9ngrxHnGDQZTjE7riDBLOY5GPWfkpCmPwF2CAmmL7wdBjQCOM3BPEvPWajCNPn0SDs4yvGSG7T44XgN_iLGnL6gyNwzeKqSUDqwJDfU2_Re4yTPg8ZoXXgdIs9EEtt578X4WYesiWIqvgsqqJqbStfXjlXbh6a2MQPu1ZOOlsWldLGtpQ7J1rZja-fZw-9jq2cXMjvrW76GaUxHelf25eBZAFTSknEYOavQi9uJCWQHUb25qU0-2y_nlsNswBZAFlhoFzn-RRV8hXpXb-YMMcwvOONxg99xnDu/>
ACWA Power Company. ‘ACWA Power Company announces the start of Commercial Operation of Group 3 of Sudair Solar PV Project’. (2024). Saudi Exchange. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://www.saudiexchange.sa/wps/portal/saudiexchange/newsandreports/issuer-news/issuer-announcements/issuer-announcements-details/!ut/p/z1/lZFNU8IwEIZ_Cweu7NLaJHqLOJYyINRSgVycIBXihKRTAg7_3oAny8fg3nbzvPtmd0HAFISRO7WUTlkjtc9ngrxHnGDQZTjE7riDBLOY5GPWfkpCmPwF2CAmmL7wdBjQCOM3BPEvPWajCNPn0SDs4yvGSG7T44XgN_iLGnL6gyNwzeKqSUDqwJDfU2_Re4yTPg8ZoXXgdIs9EEtt578X4WYesiWIqvgsqqJqbStfXjlXbh6a2MQPu1ZOOlsWldLGtpQ7J1rZja-fZw-9jq2cXMjvrW76GaUxHelf25eBZAFTSknEYOavQi9uJCWQHUb25qU0-2y_nlsNswBZAFlhoFzn-RRV8hXpXb-YMMcwvOONxg99xnDu/>
Saudipedia. ‘Sudair Solar PV IPP’. (2024). Official Saudi Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from <https://saudipedia.com/en/article/902/economy-and-business/projects/sudair-solar-pv-ipp>

Sudair Solar PV Project

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2025 - 2024

Project Description

Project Link, Endnotes and References

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