Aramco joins group building giant solar plant in Saudi Arabia

Aramco joins group building giant solar plant in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Aramco is joining a group led by ACWA Power to build a nearly $1 billion solar power plant in the kingdom as the world’s largest oil-exporting nation expands renewable energy supply.

Aramco will hold a 30% stake in the Sudair solar project, while ACWA and partner Water & Electricity Holding Co. will each own 35%. ACWA, itself 50% owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, said it had reached financial close with lenders on the 1,500 megawatt project.

Saudi Arabia has been slow to move away from fossil fuels in favor of clean energy. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the Sudair plant in April, saying it be the country’s largest when it starts operating. The plant will start producing power in second half of 2022.