Saudi Arabia has launched five new renewable energy projects to produce electricity sustainably, as the world's largest oil exporter pursues a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. These wind and solar projects, with a combined capacity of 3,300 MW, were initiated by Saudi Electricity Procurement Company as the main buyer. Of the five projects, three will utilize wind energy and two will utilize solar energy.

The total output of wind energy projects is 1,800 MW, one of which is located in Yanbu with a capacity of 700 MW, another is located in Al Ghat with a capacity of 600 MW, and the third is located in Waad Al Shamal with a capacity of 500 MW.

The total capacity of the new solar projects is 1,500 MW, with one project in Al Henakiyah 1,100 MW and the other in Tubarjal 400 MW.

In December 2021, Saudi Arabia announced plans to invest more than $100 billion in renewable energy projects. It aims to increase the share of natural gas and renewables in its electricity mix to 50% by 2030.

The projects are part of the fourth phase of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Plan overseen by the Ministry of Energy. Saudi Arabia is the largest electricity consumer in the region and its electricity demand is growing rapidly. Keywords: engineering news, overseas news

Total electricity demand in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach 365.4TWh by 2030, up from 299.2TWh in 2018, according to a report by the Riyadh-based King Abdullah Petroleum Research and Research Center.Editor/XingWentao