RENEWABLE ENERGY

SAUDI-JAPAN DEAL TO BOOST SUPPLY CHAIN IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

Saudi Arabia is expanding its trade ties with Japan with the creation of the KSA-Japan Lighthouse Initiative for Clean Energy Cooperation.

In June, the two countries established the partnership to develop their strategies and roadmaps toward their net zero ambitions. Saudi Arabia – a major energy exporter to Japan – plans to decarbonise and reach net zero by or before 2060, benefitting from the globally low cost of renewable and clean hydrogen energy, as well as its strategic location on trade routes used to supply energy products to the world. Those goals dovetail with japan's strong decarbonisation efforts to achieve net zero by 2050 and become a global pioneer in clean energy technology solutions.

“The Lighthouse initiative aims at showcasing Saudi Arabia and Japan’s leadership in clean energy projects and sustainable advanced materials, as well as maintaining the resiliency of the supply chain to ensure sustainable and secure supplies,” the two governments said. “The initiative will support the ongoing efforts that Saudi Arabia is undertaking to become a hub for clean energy, mineral resources, and energy components supply chains.”

The programme aims to facilitate major Saudi and Japanese efforts to boost their collaboration and enhance the energy supply chain that will enable the development of the Lighthouse projects, such as components for renewable energy.

“The partnership will develop Lighthouse projects that guide clean energy transition, focusing on areas such as hydrogen and ammonia, e-fuel, circular carbon economy/carbon recycling, direct air capture, critical minerals required for the energy sector and supply chain resilience, sustainable advanced materials, and research and knowledge exchange,” the two countries announced.

                  

In August, Sungrow, a leading global inverter and energy storage system solution supplier, signed a contract with Larsen & Toubro to supply inverter skid solutions for a 2.2 gigawatts alternating current (GWac) PV plant – the largest single-site utility-scale PV Plant in the Middle East – for the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC). NGHC will use solely renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to produce up to 600 tonnes per day of carbon-free hydrogen by the end of 2026. This project marks a significant milestone in advancing the kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative for a clean and sustainable energy future.

Sungrow is well engaged in the NEOM Green Hydrogen project. Earlier, Sungrow signed the contract with Larsen & Toubro to supply 400 megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage systems comprising a DC capacity of 536MW/600MWh to the NEOM Green Hydrogen project. Sungrow's 1+X Modular Inverter solution for the 2.2 GWac PV plant is another remarkable supply that it contributes to the NEOM Green Hydrogen project.

“The solution is an innovation combining the advantages of both central and string inverters, featuring a 1.1 MW single unit as the minimum, and the maximum capacity can be expanded to 8.8 MW by combining eight units together, bringing a more flexible design for different block sizes, and making the on-site operation and maintenance easier,” the company said. “Each module is designed with an independent maximum power point tracking MPPT, further improving the power generation capacity of the power plant.Tailored for this gigawatt project, the medium-voltage station integrated 1+X Modular Inverter of 8.8 MW capacity is offered."

   

Meanwhile, the Red Sea Global development reported the installation of 750,000 solar panels and five solar stations dedicated to the operation of the first phase of the Red Sea Project, which features 16 hotels, retail, and entertainment venues, and supporting infrastructure facilities to be powered entirely by renewable energy

Installation of electroluminescent (EL) panels at the five solar stations had been completed as part of the first phase of the Red Sea Project, and the complete independence of the mega venture from the national grid makes it not only the largest, but also the first, of its kind in the world.

One of the solar stations is located near the Six Senses Southern Dunes, the Red Sea Resort, and Spa, the first solar-powered resort and hotel to be inaugurated of the 16 hotels of the Red Sea Project’s first phase. Two solar stations are located near the Desert Rock Mountain Resort and the Sheybarah Resort on Sheybarah Island. In comparison, two other solar stations of larger capacity will power the remaining resorts and the 15 beach villas in the Turtle Bay Village.

Red Sea Global is also in the process of developing the world’s largest battery storage facility at a capacity of 1,200 MWh, which will enable the mega tourism project to achieve 100% grid independence, meet its sustainability and development goals, and contribute to realising the Saudi Vision 2030’s targets.