In keeping with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, National Agricultural Development Company (Nadec), the country’s leading agricultural and food processing company and one of the largest in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced that its solar energy project, located within the Haradh Industrial Park, is now commercially operational. The announcement comes following the completion of the second phase of construction on the solar farm in November last year.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) park was developed by Nadec and French energy company Engie, as part of a 25-year corporate power purchase agreement, the first of its kind in the country.

The facility, located on an area of land spanning 766,000 sq. m., roughly equivalent to 21 football pitches, has a capacity of 30MW. The solar PV park features 75,000 PV bifacial modules with single access trackers, string inverters and fully automated robotic cleaning, helping boost their production capability and cost-efficiency.

Speaking at the launch of the solar PV park’s commercial operations, Turki Al Shehri, CEO for Engie in Saudi Arabia, said: “We are guided by our mission to support the transition to renewable energy, helping governments and businesses embrace the green, circular economy. We are delighted to announce that we have reached a new milestone on Nadec’s solar PV park, as it becomes commercially operational.”

Shehri added it was significant achievement for Saudi Arabia as part of its drive to “decarbonise the economy and make the shift toward a more sustainable future for all”.

The project is estimated to lower carbon emissions by 53 million kg per year.