SEC starts operations at Waad al-Shamal power plant

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has started operations at the Waad al-Shamal combined cycle power plant, which partially depends on solar power to generate electricity, the Saudi utility company said in a statement.

SEC has invested more than SAR 3.75 billion in the 1,050 megawatt power plant, said Ziyad M. Al-Shiha, SEC CEO.

The station includes the first gas turbine manufactured locally by General Electric, SEC said.

In 2015, GE was awarded a nearly $1 billion contract for the engineering, construction and provision of gas turbine services for SEC’s Waad Al Shamal combined cycle power plant, which will support the phosphate mining operations in the locality.

The power plant features four advanced GE heavy duty gas turbines, a GE steam turbine, and featuring solar innovation technology.