Saudi Arabia is sticking to its announced timeline by issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the first round of the national renewable energy programme (NREP).
The Renewable Energy Project Development Office, a newly created body of the kingdom’s energy ministry launched its first RFQ for companies interested in bidding for 700 megawatts of solar and wind energy projects.
"This marks the starting point of a long and sustained programme of renewable energy deployment in Saudi Arabia, that will not only diversify our power mix but also catalyse economic development and support long-term prosperity in line with Vision 2030 goals, which include creating a new renewable industry and support the build-up of this promising sector," said Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister.
This RFQ will choose companies that are pre-qualified, or able to move on to the next stage, which is the Request for Proposals slated for April.
For this, selected firms will gain access to the site assessments that have been carried out for both the Sakaka and Midyan areas, which will house 300MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and a 400MW wind project respectively.
For any company whose pre-qualification application is unsuccessful as either a manager or technical role in the first round will still remain eligible to participate in future projects under the NREP, which will ultimately target 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023.
"It is our goal to make the national renewable energy programme among the most attractive, competitive and well-executed government renewable energy investment programmes in the world, and we have all the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure that is the case," Mr Al Falih said.

Source: The National