Aramco, GE to install Saudi Arabia’s first wind turbine

Saudi Aramco is partnering with General Electric (GE) to install the kingdom’s first wind turbine at the Turaif Bulk Plant in Saudi Arabia, the US-based conglomerate said in a statement on Friday.

The project marks the first regional installation of GE’s 2.75-120 wind turbine, which has been specifically designed for the kingdom’s climate. The turbine, which features a 120-metre rotor, will allow the displacement of diesel used for power generation at the plant.

“We have worked with Saudi Aramco’s team to customize the turbine and optimize its performance for the kingdom,” said Hisham Albahkali, GE’s President and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. “This is a strong example of how we work with our partners to meeting the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.”

The potential for wind energy generation in the kingdom has been confirmed by many studies, GE explained in the statement, adding that the northeast and central regions in particular are conducive to the technology as they experience wind speeds near 8.0 m/s and above.

“The demo installation of GE’s wind turbine will enable the Saudi Aramco and GE teams to build expertise in executing wind projects in the Kingdom,” said Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, vice president of power systems at Saudi Aramco.

Saudi Arabia’s recently unveiled economic reform plan has set a target of generating 9.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, as it looks to diversify energy sources to meet its growing demand for power.

Write to Jerusha Sequeira at jerusha.s@argaamnews.com