The first wind turbine at the 600MW Al Ghat Wind Power Project in Saudi Arabia has been successfully connected to the grid, marking a major milestone in the development of one of the Kingdom’s significant renewable energy projects.
The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project is being undertaken by Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation III and features a planned installed capacity of 600MW. The project comprises 80 wind turbine units, each with a capacity of 7.7MW.
The successful grid connection of the first turbine represents the first time that 7.7MW wind turbine units have been connected to the power grid in Saudi Arabia, highlighting a technological milestone for the Kingdom’s renewable energy sector and signaling a new phase in the project’s execution.
The project utilizes domestically manufactured 7.7MW wind turbine generators, currently the largest single-unit wind turbine capacity deployed in Saudi Arabia. Once completed, the wind farm will generate clean and reliable electricity capable of serving hundreds of thousands of residents while reducing dependence on long-distance power transmission.
In addition to strengthening the Kingdom’s renewable energy capacity, the project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately one million tons annually. This environmental benefit is equivalent to planting nearly 50 million trees.
During construction, the project team implemented a coordinated approach to project execution, carefully managing design, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities. Key milestones, including wind turbine installation and electrical commissioning, were completed according to schedule and to high technical standards.
Following the successful backfeeding of the project substation on March 12, the team accelerated preparations for grid integration. Within 48 hours, the first wind turbine unit was successfully synchronized with the grid, an achievement that received positive recognition from the project owner and supervising authorities.
The Al Ghat Wind Power Project is expected to play an important role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy ambitions and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader sustainability and energy diversification goals.
