Saudi PIF-owned Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel) has signed a power purchase agreement with the region’s leading power plant developer, ACWA Power to develop a 2,060 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Al Shuaibah.
This is the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East to date. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by the fourth quarter of 2025. The project will be jointly owned by Badeel and ACWA Power.
According to the statement, each company will hold a 50 percent equity stake through the establishment of ” Shuaibah Two Electrical Energy Company”, a joint company dedicated to the development of the project.
Mohammad Abunayyan Chairman ACWA Power
“Under the guidance of our visionary leadership and the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate its ambitious plans for diversifying its energy mix to include renewable energy. It is a great honor to partner with Badeel and SPPC in developing this milestone project which will set a benchmark for sustainable energy development in the region. Solar power is a key component in unlocking positive economic, environmental, and social outcomes for the betterment of communities across our great nation. We remain committed to developing local capabilities in technology, supply chain, and talent and ensure they are realized to their fullest potential.”
According to the statement, “In the same context, the Shuaibah Two Electrical Energy Company announced the signing of the power purchase agreement for the project with the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), the offtaker within this project that is a concrete representation of the energy transition in play—a giga scale development in sustainable energy that will play a key role in translating Saudi Vision 2030 goals.”
Badeel and ACWA Power will build, own, and operate Al Shuaibah 2 facility and the electricity produced will be sold to SPPC. When complete, it will power 350,000 homes.
Shuaibah 2 is ACWA Power’s sixth solar energy facility in Saudi Arabia. In addition, ACWA Power’s KSA portfolio comprises 13 power, water desalination, and green hydrogen plants.
Badeel and ACWA Power are also developing the Sudair Solar PV 1500 MW project, which was the first cornerstone renewable energy project in PIF’s program.
“This marks a key achievement toward PIF’s commitment to developing 70 percent of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy by 2030. Utilities and Renewables is one of PIF’s priority sectors as part of its domestic strategy, which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s efforts in diversifying revenue sources,” commented Mr. Yazeed A. Al-Humied, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF.
