Meed | French firm to study 20GW Neom solar sites

French firm to study 20GW Neom solar sites

3 July 2023

Neom’s utility subsidiary Enowa has appointed France-headquartered Assystem to conduct pre-development studies for seven planned solar photovoltaic (PV) parks in the Tabuk and Duba regions in Saudi Arabia.

The sites earmarked to host the solar PV parks stretch across 420 square kilometres, with 65 per cent of land use yielding 20GW in energy generating capacity.

The French engineering, digital and project management services firm will undertake a site assessment study, preliminary design of parks and master planning, environmental baseline surveys, an environmental and social impact assessment, and permitting studies.

The work scope includes geotechnical, geophysical, topographical, hydrological, glint and glare, and corrosion assessments, energy yield calculations and advanced design of the parks.

Ongoing studies

Neom has awarded several similar contracts since the beginning of the year. In March, MEED reported that Germany’s ILF Consulting Engineers had won a contract to undertake a pre-development study for three solar PV parks with a potential combined total capacity of 30GW in Saudi Arabia.

It is generally assumed that the projects were for Neom, although this has not been officially confirmed.

Spanish consulting and engineering firm Typsa is also undertaking the preliminary studies for three utility-scale solar plants being developed to supply power to Neom, as MEED reported.

The solar projects will be located in Hasma, Sharifa and Airport West. According to the company’s latest newsletter, the proposed power plant will cover an area of 10,000 hectares and have a total combined capacity of approximately 5,000MW.

These projects contribute to Neom’s plan to be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy by 2030.

They are also expected to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s goal to reduce its emissions by 278 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually from 2020 to 2030.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo