The Renewable Energy Project Development Office of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM) have unveiled the next stage of the kingdom's renewable energy plans. Matter of interest are being sought for seven solar projects during the launch of the National Industrial Development and Industrials Program .

The proclamation represents the next phase in Saudi Arabia's ambitious renewable energy plans, which seek to meet over 25GW of wind and solar power generation in the next five years, and close to 60GW over the next era, of which 40GW will be produced from solar energy, with a further 16GW of onshore wind.

With joint generation capacity of 1.51 GW, the newly disclosed seven projects will supply enough energy to power 226,500 households, a statement said, adding that the total investment is set to be worth $1.51 billion, creating over 4,500 jobs at the time of construction, operations and maintenance.

The projects comprises Qurrayat (200 MW), Madinah (50 MW), Rafha (45 MW), Alfaisaliah (600 MW), Rabigh (300 MW), Jeddah (300 MW) and Mahad Duhab (20 MW).The projects come as the kingdom focuses to create over the next decade a global platform of renewable energy capability upwards of 200 GW, extending the entire value chain from local manufacturing to project development, domestically and abroad.

The $500 million project will be Saudi Arabia’s very first utility-scale wind farm, and is the second tender to be expressed as part of the National Renewable Energy Program under the aegis of the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative.