PVTIME – Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and Bahrain’s Bapco Energies have signed a joint development agreement for a 2.8GW solar power plant with a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) in Saudi Arabia. The project is set to be delivered in multiple phases in the kingdom’s Eastern Province, and will supply electricity to Bapco Energies. No further details have been disclosed regarding the technical specifications or construction timelines.
Bapco Energies’ CEO, Mark Thomas, noted that this initiative is a key milestone for Bahrain’s national energy strategy, which aims to cut emissions by 30% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2060. ACWA Power’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Raad Al Saady, highlighted that the partnership reflects the strong bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as their shared commitment to achieving a sustainable and secure energy future.
This announcement follows the unveiling of another major solar project in the Eastern Province: the 2GW Al Sadawi development, which is supported internationally and highlights the global interest in the region’s solar sector. This year, ACWA Power has launched other solar initiatives, including Al Kahfah, Ar Rass 2, and SAAD 2, which have a combined capacity of 2.7GW. The project will source modules and racking from Chinese and Spanish companies, respectively.
Notably, this announcement comes two days after Bapco Energies celebrated the anniversary of its Bapco Modernisation Programme, which is described as Bahrain’s largest ever energy investment. The programme has increased the company’s sole refinery’s daily oil output from 265,000 to 380,000 barrels.
Scan the QR code to follow PVTIME official account on Wechat for latest news on PV+ES
…){kind=link}