Sudair Solar PV Plant, Saudi Arabia’s largest solar power plant currently under construction in Sudair, has selected Nextracker, the leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions, to offer its smart solar trackers and TrueCapture technology for the first phase of the 450 megawatts (MW) plant.
Nextracker is the global market leader in yield-enhancing PV system technology and solar trackers which are recognized for maximum energy production and efficiency and endorsed by Independent Engineers and Independent Certifying companies.
The selection of Nextracker bifacial optimized tracker solution and TrueCapture technology will help boost the energy generation profile of Sudair Solar PV Project. The installation of the solar trackers and technology is expected to start in the second quarter of 2022.
Sudair Solar PV IPP Project is developed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia through its subsidiary Badeel/WEHC, Saudi Aramco and ACWA Power. The consortium partners have entrusted the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract with the renewables arm of global construction giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Mr. Kashif Rana, Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Portfolio Management Officer of ACWA Power said “Sudair Solar PV IPP, which is one of the largest solar plants in the world, is a strategically important pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Net Zero commitment by 2060 as well as the nation’s ambitious target to derive 50 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. We view Nextracker as being a key partner in delivering the most efficient energy production at the lowest possible cost.”
Marco Garcia CCO – Nextracker
“Bifacial optimized trackers and TrueCapture technology are particularly well suited to maximize solar energy production on power plant facilities in desert environments. The desert has a very high albedo or brightness of the ground. Over the life of a solar plant, this makes a significant difference in the total amount of energy produced, bringing great value to our customers with the lowest levelized cost of energy.”
L&T released the order for Nextracker solar trackers and TrueCapture technology for part of the first phase of Sudair. Nextracker technology enables solar panels to track the path of the sun to maximize energy production versus fixed tilt ground mount applications.
Nextracker also works with local Saudi steel manufacturing partners for the installation of domestic solar projects as well for steel export to support the development of solar projects around the world.
The Sudair Solar Power project is being developed in line with Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) which aims to achieve 58.7 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030. PIF has been entrusted by the Kingdom to provide for 70 percent of the target capacity. It is being developed on a 30-square-kilometer site southeast of Al Majmahh in Riyadh Province.
