Two renewable energy plants are to be developed over a total area of 12m sqm in Saudi Arabia, as part of the country’s broader plans to generate 50% of its energy from renewables.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency, the plants will have a capacity of 600MW and will be implemented in the Third Industrial City in Jeddah and the Industrial City in Rabigh. Both projects will be developed via the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones Modon.

The Ministry of Energy is working towards diversifying the country’s power generation energy mix, by increasing the share of gas and renewable energy sources in it, and is displacing liquid fuel and replacing it with natural gas, the report noted.

A consortium led by developer Acwa Power also hit a milestone on a separate renewable energy project, as it reached financial closure for the 1,500MW Sudair solar plant. The plant is expected to be the world’s largest single-contracted solar photovoltaic plant, the report noted.