Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, a global leader in clean energy, announced today that it has been awarded two solar photovoltaic (PV) projects with a combined capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW) as part of the sixth round of bidding in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).
The Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects include the 1,400-megawatt (MW) Najran plant and the 600 MW Ad Darb facility. Both will be developed on a build, own, and operate (BOO) basis, following the signing of 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC). The Ad Darb plant, located in Jizan Province, is expected to commence commercial operations in late 2027, while the Najran project, situated in Najran Province, is set to start operations in the first half of 2028.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, stated:
“Masdar is proud to support Saudi Arabia to achieve its Vision 2030 renewable energy targets. Winning the Najran and Ad Darb projects marks a significant expansion of our Saudi portfolio, and is testament to our two decades of experience in developing and operating utility-scale renewable projects, and our strong track record in the region. We look forward to develop these projects and contribute to the Kingdom’s sustainable economic growth.”
The Principal Buyer is responsible for conducting predevelopment studies, tendering power generation projects, and signing Power Purchase Agreements with project developers. To date, the company has awarded a total capacity of 43.2 GW, with 12.3 GW already connected to the grid.
Masdar has secured the largest capacity in the highly competitive SPPC bidding for three consecutive years, with additional solar projects in development, including the 1,100 MW Al Henakiyah project, which is scheduled to begin commercial operations next year, and the 2,000 MW Al Sadawi project, expected to start operations in 2027.
Source: Masdar
