• 400 MW As Sufun solar project to power over 68,000 homes under a 25-year PPA with SPPC
• Part of Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program targeting 50% renewables by 2030
• Consortium marks its second win under the program, deepening TotalEnergies’ regional footprint
Riyadh Pact Advances Saudi Solar Ambitions
Saudi Arabia’s energy transition took another step forward as the consortium of France’s TotalEnergies and Aljomaih Energy & Water (AEW) won the license to develop, build, and operate the 400-megawatt As Sufun solar photovoltaic plant in the Hail region. The award was made by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) following a competitive tender under the sixth round of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP).
Once operational in 2027, the facility will supply clean electricity to more than 68,400 homes through a 25-year power purchase agreement with SPPC. The project supports Riyadh’s broader Vision 2030 plan to diversify energy sources, reduce dependence on liquid fuels, and expand the renewable share of installed capacity to as much as half of total generation by the end of the decade.
Expanding a Strategic Energy Partnership
For TotalEnergies, the project reinforces a growing multi-energy presence in the Kingdom, spanning oil, refining, and renewables. The company already operates the 119 MW Wadi Al Dawasir solar plant and is constructing the 300 MW Rabigh 2 facility.
“Together with our partner Aljomaih, we are proud to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s target of increasing renewables in its energy mix,” said Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President for Renewables at TotalEnergies. “This project represents the second success for our consortium within the Saudi National Renewable Energy Program and further strengthens our collaboration with the Kingdom as we deploy our multi-energy strategy.”
The As Sufun award underscores TotalEnergies’ approach of combining global technology capabilities with local partnerships to accelerate decarbonisation in emerging markets. The French major has steadily increased its renewable investments across the Middle East, aligning with state-led energy diversification strategies while expanding its low-carbon portfolio.
Local Capacity and Global Alignment
For Aljomaih Energy & Water, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading independent power producers, the project reinforces the company’s commitment to national sustainability goals and the Saudi Green Initiative.
“This reflects our unwavering dedication to supporting the Saudi Green Initiative and advancing Vision 2030,” said Ibrahim Aljomaih, Chairman of AEW. “Through deep local expertise and trusted international partnerships, we continue to contribute to the Kingdom’s energy transition toward a more sustainable future.”
Acting CEO Eng. Adnan Buhuligah added that the project “demonstrates our ongoing efforts to expand renewable energy investments in the Kingdom and deliver tangible progress toward a thriving, sustainable economy.”
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Governance and Investment Context
The National Renewable Energy Program, overseen by the Ministry of Energy, aims to leverage public–private partnerships to diversify generation sources and localise clean-energy supply chains. By introducing international partners such as TotalEnergies through transparent tenders, Riyadh is positioning the program as both an energy and industrial policy instrument—reducing fiscal pressure from fossil-fuel subsidies while stimulating local employment and technology transfer.
The program’s successive rounds have seen increasing competitiveness, with average tariffs falling sharply as financing terms, EPC costs, and grid infrastructure mature. The 400 MW As Sufun project forms part of a portfolio designed to provide utility-scale stability for the grid while enabling Saudi Arabia to meet rising demand without expanding carbon-intensive capacity.
What Investors Should Note
For institutional investors and corporate leaders tracking global energy transitions, the As Sufun project reflects how Gulf states are recalibrating national energy portfolios to maintain global relevance amid the decarbonisation of oil-linked economies. Saudi Arabia’s model—anchoring long-term PPAs with SPPC, encouraging foreign capital, and integrating renewables into Vision 2030—creates predictable revenue frameworks and mitigates policy risk for foreign developers.
TotalEnergies’ growing exposure to Saudi renewables mirrors a wider strategic realignment across oil majors seeking low-carbon growth anchored in partnership-driven markets. For Saudi Arabia, it reinforces credibility in scaling domestic clean-energy capacity, diversifying export capabilities, and contributing to global energy security debates heading into COP 30.
As grid integration advances and tendered capacity rises, As Sufun’s success will be a barometer for how effectively public-private models can translate national ambitions into bankable, operational renewable assets in one of the world’s most energy-intensive economies.
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