Shanghai Electric has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) to develop a 2-gigawatt photovoltaic project in Saudi Arabia, marking its largest solar engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project to date.
The Sadawi photovoltaic plant, spanning 40 square kilometres, is expected to produce more than 6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually—enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 700,000 households. According to the companies, the project will also reduce carbon emissions by around 3 million tonnes per year.
The solar facility forms part of Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program and is designed to utilize advanced photovoltaic technologies to capitalize on the region’s solar potential.
“This is a new starting point for Shanghai Electric and Masdar to carry out comprehensive cooperation and an important milestone for Shanghai Electric to further establish itself in the Middle East’s new energy market,” said Wu Lei, chairman of Shanghai Electric Group.
In a parallel development, Shanghai Electric has also signed a wind power cooperation agreement with Oman’s Mawarid Group. The agreement includes the supply of wind turbines, technology transfer, and the design of localized manufacturing facilities.
The collaboration in Oman aims to leverage local resources to build a regional supply chain and contribute to long-term economic development. Both deals align with broader national strategies—Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Oman Vision 2040—which prioritize clean energy expansion and economic diversification.
“Masdar attaches great importance to its partnership with Shanghai Electric and looks forward to further deepening cooperation with them in wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, and other fields in the future to jointly promote the transformation of the global energy structure,” said Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi.
The agreements underscore Shanghai Electric’s growing footprint in the Middle East’s renewable energy market, as regional governments accelerate efforts to transition toward more sustainable energy systems.
