Saudi Aramco and GE have announced they are partnering to install Saudi Arabia’s first wind turbine at the Turaif Bulk Plant, located in the north-west of the Gulf kingdom.
The initiative is in line with Saudi Vision 2030 that has set an initial target of generating 9.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy.
The project marks the first regional installation of GE’s 2.75-120 Wind Turbine, which has been specifically customised for climatic conditions in Saudi Arabia, a statement said.
Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, vice president of Power Systems, Saudi Aramco, said: “We are committed to efficiently meeting the kingdom’s energy demand through our fuel optimization program and by supporting renewable energy development. The demo installation of GE’s Wind Turbine will enable the Saudi Aramco and GE teams to build expertise in executing wind projects in the kingdom.”
Hisham Albahkali, GE’s president and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, added: “The installation of GE’s Wind Turbine by Saudi Aramco, our long-term partner, underlines our commitment to promoting renewable energy in the Kingdom.
“This state-of-the-art wind turbine is designed for challenging conditions.”
Several studies have confirmed the potential for wind energy generation in the kingdom, particularly in the northern region.
According to the Renewable Energy Atlas, higher wind speeds near 8.0 m/s and above occur in the northeast and central regions of Saudi Arabia, as well as near mountains in the western region.
GE recently announced the launch of 10 initiatives with strategic partners including Saudi Aramco, that support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, including economic diversification, localised manufacturing, human capital development as well as productivity and efficiency enhancement across the energy, aviation, healthcare and digital sectors.
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