(Yicai) Sept. 26 -- Tongwei Group, the world's largest producer of solar silicon, said it has agreed to supply 1.18 gigawatts of large-size modules to ACWA Power, a leading Saudi Arabian developer, investor, and operator of power generation, renewable energy, and desalinated water plants.

The modules will be used at ACWA Power's Muwyah solar project, helping it generate around 1.63 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity a year once it goes live, likely cutting carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.54 million tonnes, Tongwei announced late yesterday. The first batch of products is expected to be delivered next year, it added.

Located in western Saudi Arabia, the Muwyah solar project is part of the fourth phase of infrastructure development by the country's Public Investment Fund, Tongwei said. It is expected to begin commercial operations in 2027, it noted.

The new order further implements the Cooperation Framework Agreement Tongwei and ACWA Power signed at the International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Exhibition & Conference in Shanghai in June, the Chengdu-based company said.

According to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the Middle Eastern country will have a renewable energy output of 58.7 GW by 2030, generating 40 GW by solar power, with new energy accounting for half of its power consumption.

The Saudi government will hold annual tenders from this year for the construction of 20 GW of renewable energy projects to increase the corresponding installed capacity to 130 GW by 2030, it said at the end of last year.

Editor: Martin Kadiev