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Saudi Arabia's principal buyer, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), has invited interested companies to prequalify for the contracts to develop and operate solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind independent power producer (IPP) projects with a total combined capacity of 5,300MW.

The following schemes comprise round seven of the kingdom's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP):

• 1,400MW Tabjal 2 solar PV IPP (Tabrijal, Al-Jouf Province)
• 600MW Mawqqaq solar PV IPP (Mawqqaq, Hail Province)
• 600MW Tathleeth solar PV IPP (Tathleeth, Aseer Province)
• 500MW South Al-Ula solar PV IPP (Al-Ula, Medina Province)
• 1,300MW Bilgah wind IPP (Bilgah, Medina Province)
• 900MW Shagran wind IPP (Shagran, Medina Province)

These projects are part of the NREP, which aims to achieve an optimal energy mix and supply 50% of the kingdom's electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

Earlier rounds under the NREP have already put in place large capacities.

Round six solicited around 4,500MW of solar and wind projects:

• 1,500MW Dawadmi wind IPP  (Riyadh)
• 1,400MW Najran solar PV IPP (Najran)
• 600MW Samtah solar PV IPP (Jizan)
• 600MW Al-Darb solar PV IPP (Jizan)
• 400MW Al-Sufun solar PV IPP (Hail)

In April, MEED reported that prequalified developers were forming teams to bid for the contracts to develop solar farms under the sixth round of the NREP.

A separate set of bidders were prequalified for the 1,500MW Dawadmi wind farm, with contracts due to be awarded before the end of the year.