New Saudi Projects to Speed Growth of Kingdom’s Renewable Energy Sector

The launch and operation of Sakaka IPP PV represents Saudi Arabia’s first step towards utilizing renewable energy in the kingdom | Asharq Al-Awsat
The launch and operation of Sakaka IPP PV represents Saudi Arabia’s first step towards utilizing renewable energy in the kingdom | Asharq Al-Awsat
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New Saudi Projects to Speed Growth of Kingdom’s Renewable Energy Sector

The launch and operation of Sakaka IPP PV represents Saudi Arabia’s first step towards utilizing renewable energy in the kingdom | Asharq Al-Awsat
The launch and operation of Sakaka IPP PV represents Saudi Arabia’s first step towards utilizing renewable energy in the kingdom | Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia is working towards generating 50% of the nation’s power needs using renewable energy, with the remainder provided by gas. The kingdom wants to add gas and renewables capacity equating to one million barrels of oil per day by 2030.

Riyadh’s efforts for steering the kingdom towards greener sources of energy included the recent signing of seven major agreements to produce electricity from solar power in various parts of the country.

The new projects will have the capacity to power over 600,000 households in the kingdom. The output capacity of these projects, in addition to the projects of Sakaka and Dumat Al Jandal, will amount to more than 3,600MW.

Apart from powering households, the projects, according to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tons.

Saudi Arabia aims “to nationalize the renewable energy sector, promote the local content in it, and enable the manufacturing of the components of solar and wind energy production locally, allowing the Kingdom, within the next ten years, to become a global hub for conventional energy, renewable energy, and their technologies,” said the Crown Prince.

“A few weeks ago, the ‘Green Saudi’ initiative and the ‘Green Middle East’ initiative were announced. I explained that, as a world-leading oil producer, we are well aware of our share of responsibility in advancing the fight against climate change. In continuation of our leading role in the stability of the energy markets, we will carry on playing the same role to lead in the area of renewable energy,” he added.

The Kingdom’s latest initiatives towards sustainability and renewable energy represent substantive parts of the country’s leadership role towards shared international issues and are part of efforts made by the Kingdom during its presidency of the G20 Summit.

“These projects are a practical on-the-ground application of Saudi Vision 2030, that contributes to the optimization of the energy mix and the transformation of the Kingdom from the use of liquid fuel to gas and renewables, which makes these projects significant landmarks in the journey of the energy sector,” said Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman.

He pointed out that the new projects are located in Al Madinah, Sudair, Qurayyat, Shuaibah, Jeddah, Rabigh, and Rafha.

Some of these projects, Prince Abdulaziz added, have set new world records for the lowest cost of solar-produced electricity. The Shuaibah project’s cost of electricity is 1.04 US cents per kWh.



Bilateral Consultations Boost Coordination Between Riyadh, Washington

The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Bilateral Consultations Boost Coordination Between Riyadh, Washington

The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
The Saudi Foreign Minister’s official US visit caps week of high-level coordination between the two countries (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi-US coordination has seen a notable uptick in recent days, with five rounds of bilateral consultations held over the span of a week. The talks, which covered political, defense, and security issues, as well as regional and international developments, reflect deepening engagement between the two allies.

The surge in activity comes amid growing momentum in the relationship, with Riyadh hosting multiple American delegations in recent weeks, including repeated visits by the US Secretary of State.

The heightened diplomatic exchange also precedes a planned visit by US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia in May — his first overseas trip during his second term in office.

As part of this intensified coordination, US Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla conducted a five-day tour of the region from April 1 to 5, visiting five countries. He spent two days in Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili late last week.

Kurilla, Al-Ruwayli, and the other leaders discussed shared security concerns, the importance of joint readiness and interoperability, and their mutual commitment to addressing regional threats, according to a statement released by USCENTCOM.

Earlier this week, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met with Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the US to the Kingdom Alison Dilworth at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and discussed key regional and international developments, along with efforts to address them.

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman also received a phone call from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Monday.
They discussed defense cooperation between the two countries.

They also spoke about regional developments and shared efforts to enhance security and stability in the region and beyond.
The two officials reviewed the state of Saudi-US defense ties and explored prospects for deeper cooperation, according to a readout of the call.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that the defense chiefs discussed the regional security landscape, including progress in US operations aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Both sides also discussed opportunities to expand the US-Saudi partnership in defense affairs and agreed to maintain close communication going forward.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington on an official visit, where he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday at the State Department.

The two top diplomats discussed developments in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and the Russia-Ukraine war, exchanging views on ways to support international peace and security. They also explored options to strengthen coordination and cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual concern.

The talks also focused on the strategic ties between the two countries and opportunities to deepen them across various sectors.

In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts to help mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, bolster economic and defense cooperation, counter Houthi threats in the region, and restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Bruce added that the ministers also discussed diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the release of hostages in Gaza and achieving a permanent ceasefire that includes the full disarmament of Hamas and dismantling of its authority.

The statement said Prince Faisal and Rubio agreed on the need for Sudan’s armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces to resume peace talks, protect civilians, open humanitarian corridors, and return to civilian rule.

According to Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, an expert in US and international affairs, Saudi-US coordination is currently experiencing one of its strongest phases.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that global and regional dynamics are pushing both sides to intensify consultation and cooperation - a trend reflected in five rounds of talks held in less than a week.

Al-Ibrahim said the heightened level of coordination underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance to both regional and global peace and security, as well as to Washington’s foreign policy priorities.

Key issues such as freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the war in Gaza, Sudan, and developments in Syria and Lebanon, highlight Riyadh’s central role, he noted.

He added that two of the most pressing US foreign policy challenges - the war in Gaza and the conflict in Ukraine - are seeing significant Saudi engagement.

Riyadh, he said, has been actively advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and has taken a leading role in hosting and supporting peace talks related to the Ukraine war, along with broader Russian-American relations.