In a major step forward in furthering Saudi Arabia’s clean energy ambition, the Kingdom’s NEOM project has partnered with Assystem, a global engineering and project management services company, and will be deploying large-scale solar photovoltaic cells.
The ambitious project will see solar parks covering an area of 420 sq km, with a potential energy generating capacity exceeding 20GW. This initiative aligns with NEOM’s vision to become the world’s most advanced renewable energy hub and the first at-scale fully renewable electrical system.
As part of the agreement, Assystem will provide a comprehensive range of services. These include site assessment, preliminary design, environmental baseline surveys, environmental and social impact assessments, and permitting studies. Additionally, the company will conduct various specialized studies such as geotechnical, geophysical, topographical, and hydrological assessments, as well as energy yield calculations and advanced park design.
Kerem Sadiklar, Assystem’s Global Head of Siting and Environmental Services, expressed pride in the company’s involvement, stating, “This project marks one of the first steps towards realizing the deployment of solar PV on a truly massive scale – directly contributing to NEOM’s ambitious 100% renewable energy goal.”
The partnership is a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s commitment to reducing emissions by 278 MtCO2e annually from 2020 to 2030. Assystem, an independent engineering group based in Paris with over 6,500 experts across 12 countries, specializes in complex projects and industrial infrastructure, particularly in the nuclear industry.
The ambitious project has been contracted by Enowa, a subsidiary of NEOM, to conduct pre-development studies for seven planned solar photovoltaic parks in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk and Duba regions.
