Saudi private energy developer Acwa Power announced on 25 November the connection of the Sakaka solar PV plant to the Saudi national grid, saying the plant will initially be operated under a pilot phase with full commercial operation to be achieved before the end of 2019.
The 300MW plant will supply electricity to 45,000 households in the northern Al Jawf region. It is less than 10km from the 214MW Al Jouf power plant, which MEES assesses to be the only power plant in the eastern region still burning crude oil. Sakaka could therefore eliminate crude burn in the east, although other plants will continue using diesel. (CONTINUED - 220 WORDS)