Technology

Saudi Red Sea Energy Timeline 2017–2026: How an Off-Grid Mega-Project Runs on Solar + Bat…

A 340 MWac solar plant generates electricity during daylight, covering the Red Sea destination's live demand and charging a 1,227 MWh battery system built by H…

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COMMERCIAL OPERATION

Off-Grid System Goes Live — 340 MWac Solar + 1,227 MWh Battery

On September 6, 2026, Marafiq Red Sea for Energy Company (ACWA Power, SPIC Huanghe Hydropower and Saudi Tabreed) reached commercial operation of the destination's integr…

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EXPANSION

Hotels Open, Battery Certified by Guinness World Records

Resorts opened across Shura Island and the mainland, reaching 11 operating hotels by 2026. In May 2025, Guinness World Records certified an earlier stage of the battery,…

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FIRST OPERATIONS

Red Sea International Airport and First Hotels Go Live

Red Sea International Airport, designed by Foster + Partners, began scheduled flights in September 2023 alongside the destination's first resorts. The Huawei battery sys…

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CONSTRUCTION

Solar Plant and Battery System Built

Following the February 2021 EPC contract, Sepco3 and Shandong Tiejun built the solar plant and battery system. LONGi supplied photovoltaic modules; Huawei supplied inver…

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UTILITY CONCESSION

Marafiq Red Sea Signs the 25-Year Off-Grid Utility Concession

ACWA Power, SPIC Huanghe Hydropower and Saudi Tabreed formed Marafiq Red Sea for Energy Company and signed the EPC contract in February 2021, structured as a 25-year con…

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MASTER PLANNING

Off-Grid, 100% Renewable Set as a Founding Design Requirement

Planners developed the destination's master plan across roughly 28,000 km² of Tabuk-province coastline — more than 90 islands, 200 km of coastline — setting 100% renewab…

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ANNOUNCED

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Announces the Red Sea Project

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the Red Sea Project in July 2017 as a flagship Saudi Vision 2030 tourism giga-project. The eventual buildout target — around 5…

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CONTEXT

Saudi Vision 2030 Launches

Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030 in April 2016, aiming to diversify the economy away from oil dependence through tourism, renewables and new industries. The Red Sea Pro…

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