Siemens Energy is supplying power plant technology that will provide almost 4 GW of capacity to Saudi Arabia, which is pursuing a strategy of net zero by 2060, and is relying on highly efficient gas-fired power plants in combination with CO2 capture and storage to significantly reduce its emissions.
Siemens has also entered a long-term maintenance contract for 25 years for two power plants, with a total value of approximately USD 1.5 billion. Taiba 2 and Qassim 2, said to be two of the world’s largest, most modern, and efficient combined-cycle power plants, will be built in the western and central regions of Saudi Arabia over the next few years. Siemens’ gas turbines (HL-class), in combination with steam turbines and generators, will generate approximately. 2000 MWe at each site. EPC and contracting partner for Siemens Energy is China Energy International Group. The new power plants will provide additional energy for the country’s growing population and booming economy and replace parts of Saudi Arabia’s existing aging power plant fleet, some of which rely on oil as an energy source. The new plants are expected to save up to 60 % of CO2 compared with oil-fuelled power plants. They will also be compatible with the Kingdom’s energy strategy which calls for the construction of CO2 capture and storage facilities in the medium term, to enable a carbon-neutral energy supply. Taiba 2 and Qassim 2 are scheduled to be connected to the grid in simple cycle mode in 2026, and will be permanently operated as combined cycle power plants one year later.
