First Solar and Al Watania complete solar project in Saudi Arabia

First Solar Saudi Arabia and Al Watania Agricultural Company announced the completion of its jointly funded pilot project that uses solar energy to power an irrigation at a farm spread over 300 square kilometres in Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia.

The 684kW AC photovoltaic (PV) plant powers groundwater and distribution operations at the non-profit initiative, Al Watania Organic Farm, which is the Kingdom’s largest producer of organic products.

The project is powered by First Solar’s advanced thin film PV modules. It produces 1,476 MWh of electricity per year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1,100 tonnes per year based on national averages (which is equivalent to planting 28,000 trees per year).

The solar power plant replaces a diesel generator, which would ordinarily consume 628,000 litres of diesel per year, if run continuously.

VP of business for First Solar ME Dr Raed Bkayrat said: “This project is an excellent example of the scalability and flexibility that solar PV offers. Easy-to-deploy and able to address very specific needs, innovative solar-powered solutions can address a wide range of energy challenges, as this pilot facility demonstrates,”