Top Renewable Energy Projects in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is gradually positioning itself as a global leader in renewable energy, with ambitious projects in progress that harness solar, wind and green hydrogen. Vision 2030 has catalysed this shift, driving multi-billion-dollar investments in clean energy infrastructure and reducing reliance on oil reserves. 

But this rapid expansion of renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia isn’t just reshaping the energy sector – it’s also creating a surge in demand for skilled professionals. Engineers, project managers and sustainability specialists are now required to turn visions into operational reality, to meet the Kingdom’s renewable energy ambitions. For companies operating in this space, it’s never been more important to partner with a workforce specialist to find the right personnel.

This blog looks at some of the biggest renewable energy projects and their impact on technical and engineering workforce solutions in Saudi Arabia.

A booming renewable energy industry

As global demand for sustainable power intensifies, the Kingdom has positioned itself as a key player in the region’s clean energy transition. Driven by ambitious targets under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its energy mix, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and establish itself as a leader in renewable energy innovation.

The nation’s renewable energy strategy is both pragmatic and visionary. By taking advantage of its abundant solar and wind resources, Saudi Arabia plans to generate 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, while also investing in green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies. The scale of development is staggering: multi-billion-dollar projects such as those detailed below demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to large-scale, commercially viable renewable energy solutions.

For industry executives, these developments present both opportunities and challenges. In terms of technical solutions, the push for renewables is driving demand for skilled professionals in engineering, project management and energy finance. As Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy projects expand, the need for top-tier workers has never been greater.

1. NEOM Green Hydrogen Project

• Project value: US$8.5 billion
• Start: 2023 | Completion: 2026
• Companies: NEOM, Air Products and ACWA Power

This huge project is set to become the world’s largest green hydrogen facility. It incorporates 250 wind turbines generating 1.6GW of renewable energy, along with a solar farm comprising 5.6 million panels generating up to 2.2GW. The green hydrogen plant, covering 300km², operates on 4GW of renewable energy to produce 600 tons of green hydrogen per day (converted into 1.2 million tons of green ammonia per year).

There are also plans in place for Saudi Arabia’s second large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia hub. The Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub will be nearly twice the size of the NEOM complex currently under construction, with completion expected by 2030.

These green hydrogen plants will undoubtedly position Saudi Arabia as a leader in green hydrogen production and export.

2. NEOM Gayal Wind Farm Project

• Expected project duration: 31 months from construction
• Companies: ENOWA (NEOM)

ENOWA, a subsidiary of NEOM, is planning a wind farm project to support NEOM’s goal of powering the City with 100% renewable energy by 2030. As part of this initiative, it recently received the final best and final offers (BAFOs) to contract a 1.2 GW wind farm that will provide energy for the NEOM giga project under an EPC model. The Gayal wind farm is planned to span 164km² near the former town of Gayal in Tabuk Province. NEOM is projected to require up to 55 GW of power, with the Gayal wind farm being considered as a potential source. The project scope for the selected EPC contractors includes the design, supply, and installation of wind turbine technologies, substations, control systems, and associated infrastructure.

3. Al-Shuaibah Solar PV Project

• Project value: US$2.4 billion
• Start: 2024 | Completion: 2025
• Companies: ACWA Power, Saudi Aramco, Badeel, Shuaiba Holding Company (SHC), and Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC)

This 2.6 GW solar project is being developed by a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, Badeel and ACWA Power. The project comprises two sites located in Shuaibah, approximately 80km south of the city of Jeddah, in Makkah Province. The plants will utilise N-type bifacial monocrystalline silicon modules to enhance performance and increase efficiency. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 450,000 homes in the local area.

4. Ar Rass 2 Solar PV Park

• Project value: US$2 billion
• Start: 2025 | Completion: 2026
• Companies: ACWA Power, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), Larsen & Toubro

This 2GW ground-mounted solar PV project, located in the Qassim Province near Ar Rass, is at the permitting stage and will be developed by ACWA Power as a build-own-operate (BOO) project. Once constructed and operational, SPPC will be the off-taker under a 35-year purchase power agreement (PPA). The engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been awarded the EPC contract and has engaged PV Hardware (PVH) to provide an advanced 957KW solar tracking solution for the park.

5. Al Kahfah Solar PV Plant

• Project value: US$1 billion
• Start: 2024 | Completion: 2025
• Companies: ACWA Power, Badeel, SPPC, Larsen & Toubro, Nextracker

Based in Eastern Province, the 1,425 MW ground-mounted Al Kahfah Solar PV Plant is designed to supply electricity to approximately 400,000 homes. Like others, it follows a BOO model, with ACWA Power responsible for its construction and operation, expected to be commercially viable by 2026. The initiative is a component of a larger $2.3 billion investment by AWCA Power aimed at building three major solar projects in the Kingdom, which also encompasses the Ar Rass 2 facility. The projects are set to have a combined capacity of 4.5 GW for renewable power generation in the central and northern regions. Larsen & Toubro has been designated as the EPC contractor for the Al Kahfah plant, which will employ Nextracker’s all-terrain NX Horizon-XTR™ smart solar system to enhance cost efficiency and minimise environmental impact.

6. Al-Masaa and Al-Henakiyah 2 Solar PV Plant

• Project value: US$850 million
• Start: 2025 | Completion: 2027
• Companies: Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC), EDF Renewables, SPIC Huange Hydropower Development Company, PowerChina Guizhou Engineering Co. Ltd

A consortium of partners has signed PPAs for two solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 1.4 GW. The Al-Massaa solar independent power producer (IPP) will generate 1 GW of energy and is located in Hail province, while the Al Henakiyah 2 solar PV plant will produce 400 MW and is planned to be built as a ground-mounted facility in Al Madinah. 

These projects will operate on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis as part of a 25-year agreement with SPPC. Once operational, they are expected to generate 4.4 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, power more than 240,000 homes, and displace over 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. EPC contracts have been awarded to PowerChina Guizhou Engineering Co., Ltd, marking the first collaboration between these companies in the Middle East region.

Roles in demand

The growth of renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia has created strong demand for skilled professionals across engineering, project management and technical specialisations. Key roles include solar and wind energy engineers, electricity grid integration experts and energy storage specialists, who are all critical to developing large-scale PV and wind farms. 

Additionally, project managers with experience in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, sustainability consultants, and data analysts are also increasingly sought after. Plus, as the Kingdom invests in emerging technologies like green hydrogen, expertise in electrolysis, carbon capture and smart grid systems is also in demand. 

NES: Your Technical Solutions Partner in Saudi Arabia

As a result of Saudi Arabia’s booming renewable energy sector, the need for specialised personnel has never been more critical. Whether your organisation is in the planning stages of a new solar farm or scaling up wind energy operations, securing the right technical and engineering personnel is crucial. 

NES specialises in delivering tailored technical solutions for the renewables sector, with particular expertise in Saudi Arabia, connecting companies with the skilled professionals needed to drive the energy transition forward. From project managers to renewable energy engineers, our expertise ensures you have access to the workforce required in Saudi Arabia to meet the demands of this dynamic market, whether you’re in the planning, development or operational phase. 

Contact us today to discuss how we can support your ambitions in Saudi Arabia’s evolving renewable energy sector. Or if you’re a renewables professional who’s interested in working in Saudi Arabia, take a look at our latest vacancies and register on our portal.