China Energy Engineering Group’s 2.6 GW Al Shuaibah Solar Project Achieves Commercial Operation Milestone in Saudi Arabia

On June 22 (local time), the Al Shuaibah 2.6 GW photovoltaic power plant in Saudi Arabia—jointly constructed by China Energy Engineering Group International Group, Guangdong Power Engineering Co., and Northwest Electric Power Design Institute—received the Provisional Commercial Operation Date (PCOD) certificate issued by the project owner.

This milestone marks the successful completion of full-capacity grid connection, system performance testing, grid compliance acceptance, and on-site handover, officially transitioning the project into commercial operation and warranty service phase.

Located in Jeddah, Makkah Province, the project has a total installed capacity of 2.6 GW, making it the largest single-site photovoltaic power plant in the world to date. It is also a key component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 renewable energy program.

Covering an area of 52.54 square kilometers, the project adopts advanced N-type bifacial PV modules and single-axis tracking systems, representing state-of-the-art global solar technology.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to generate approximately 282.2 billion kWh of electricity over a 35-year lifecycle. This is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 245 million tons, comparable to planting approximately 545 million trees in the Saudi desert.

The project stands as a major milestone in China–Saudi clean energy cooperation and an important achievement in aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development strategy.