Principal buyer Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) is expected to award the contracts to develop four gas-fired power plants and four solar photovoltaic (PV) projects over the next few weeks.

MEED understands the intention is to announce the preferred and reserved bidders for each of the contracts, possibly by late October or early November.

SPPC received six proposals from companies for the contracts to develop and operate four solar PV independent power producer (IPP) projects, which have a total combined capacity of 3,700MW, in August.

The project contracts were tendered under the fifth procurement round of the kingdom's National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP).

According to industry sources, the companies that submitted bids for the four PV contracts include:

• EDF Renewables (France) / Etihad Water & Electricity (UAE) / SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development (China)
• Masdar (UAE) / Nesma Renewable Energy (local) / Korea Electric Power Corporation (South Korea)
• Jinko Power (Hong Kong) / Saudi Electricity Company (local)
• Aljomaih Energy & Water (Jenwa, local) /  Total Energies Renewables (France)
• Engie / Kahrabel (France/ UAE)
• Alfanar Company (local)

The following solar PV projects and their capacities make up round five of the NREP:

• Al-Sadawi solar IPP (Eastern Province): 2,000MW
• Al-Mas solar IPP (Hail): 1,000MW
• Al-Hinakiyah 2 solar IPP (Medina): 400MW
• Rabigh 2 solar IPP (Mecca): 300MW

Meanwhile, SPPC received bids on 21 August for the contracts to develop and operate four combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power generation plants in Saudi Arabia with a total combined capacity of 7,200MW.

The four IPP projects, each with a generation capacity of 1,800MW, are:

• Remah 1
• Remah 2
• Al-Nairiyah 1
• Al-Nairiyah 2

Remah 1 and 2, previously known as PP15, will be located in Saudi Arabia’s Central Region, while Al-Nairiyah 1 and 2 will be in the Eastern Region.

According to sources close to the projects, the teams that submitted bids to develop and operate the two CCGT IPPs are:

• Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa, UAE) / Jera (Japan) 
• Acwa Power (local) / Korea Electric Power Corporation (South Korea) / Saudi Electricity Company (local).