SEC mulls removing solar from integrated power plants

Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) is considering removing solar components from its planned Duba 1 and Waad Al-Shamal integrated power plants due to high costs associated with installation, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) reported, citing unnamed sources close to the matter.

The state-owned utilities provider, which is one of the largest in the Gulf region, has not made any decision yet on the issue. Sources, however, told MEED that the company is planning to push ahead with the schemes as conventional combined-cycle power plants.

The Duba project will likely be postponed for at least one year, while plans for the concentrated solar power (CSP) component at Waad al-Shamal plant may be scrapped altogether. Declining oil prices were also said to have played a role in the matter.

The solar component of the Duba plant was to add 40-50 megawatts (MW) of the total 550 MW capacity and 50 MW for the 1,050 MW Waad al-Shamal plant. The removal of the solar components would raise further doubts about the kingdom’s commitment to introducing renewable energy on a large scale, the report said.