China-led 2.6 GW Al Shuaibah Solar Project in Saudi Arabia Enters Full Commercial Operation

On June 22 (local time), the Al Shuaibah 2.6 GW photovoltaic power plant project in Saudi Arabia, jointly undertaken on an EPC basis by a consortium led by the China Energy Engineering Group International Group together with Guangdong Power Engineering Co., Ltd. and the Northwest Electric Power Design Institute, received the Project 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. The project has officially entered the commercial power generation phase and warranty period.

Located in Jeddah, Makkah Province, the project has a total installed capacity of 2.6 GW and is currently the largest single-site solar power plant in the world. It is a key component of Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” renewable energy program.

Covering an area of 52.54 square kilometers, the plant adopts advanced N-type bifacial PV modules and single-axis tracking systems, representing some of the most advanced solar technologies currently deployed at utility scale.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate approximately 282.2 billion kWh of electricity over 35 years. This is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 245 million tons, equivalent to planting about 545 million trees in the Saudi desert.

As a landmark project under the Belt and Road cooperation framework, it highlights deepening energy collaboration between China and Saudi Arabia, and serves as a major milestone aligning China’s renewable energy capabilities with Saudi Arabia’s national development strategy.