Energy

Solar power scaled up at Amaala giga-project

By Pramod Kumar

September 11, 2023

Phase One of Saudi developer Red Sea Global's Amaala is focused on the Triple Bay masterplan and will be ready by early 2025

EDF and Masdar sign 25-year deals
Facility to power 10,000 homes 24/7

Saudi developer Red Sea Global has signed a 25-year concession agreement with France’s EDF and UAE’s Masdar to service its Amaala giga-project on the northwestern coast of the kingdom.

The off-grid renewable energy system will have the capacity to generate up to 410,000 MWh per annum, enough to power 10,000 households, the companies said in a joint statement.

The facility includes a 700 MWh battery storage facility, ensuring the project is powered by renewables 24/7.

There will also be a water desalination plant that uses reverse osmosis technology and has a capacity of 37 million litres of water per day.

The contract will be delivered through a public-private partnership, covering the design, construction and operation of the systems providing utilities, accompanied by the associated networks and infrastructure.

In addition, the 25-year agreement can be extended and involves the financing, engineering, development, construction, operation, maintenance and transfer of a multi-utilities infrastructure facility.

Amaala is a 4,155 square km ultra-luxury development housing several hotels, residential properties, marinas and a yacht club.

Red Sea Global, owned by the sovereign Public Investment Fund, was created in 2021 by merging two government-owned developers, the Red Sea Development Company and Amaala.

Phase One of Amaala is focused on the Triple Bay masterplan and will be ready by early 2025.

Once complete, the destination will be home to more than 3,900 hotel rooms across 29 hotels and 1,200 high-end resident villas, apartments and estate homes, alongside high-end retail establishments, fine dining, wellness and recreational facilities.

The project will be home to 15,000 people when fully complete.