Goldwind Secures Contract for World's Largest Onshore Wind Farm in Saudi Arabia

Goldwind to Power Saudi Arabia's Ambitious Wind Project

China's Goldwind has been awarded a significant contract to supply wind turbines for the 3GW PIF Wave 5 Wind Projects in Saudi Arabia. This landmark development is poised to become the world's largest onshore wind farm upon its completion, marking a major step in the Kingdom's renewable energy transition.

The project, with a total capacity of 3,000 megawatts (3GW), is a collaborative effort between ACWA Power, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Saudi Aramco. It comprises two distinct developments: the 1GW Shaqra project and the 2GW Starah project, both strategically located around the capital city of Riyadh.

Advanced Turbine Technology for Challenging Conditions

Goldwind will be supplying its customized GWH204-10MW turbines, featuring hybrid towers, specifically engineered to withstand Saudi Arabia's extreme climate, characterized by high temperatures and sandy conditions. The company's involvement extends beyond just equipment supply, encompassing a comprehensive suite of services from transportation and installation to commissioning and ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M). To further support local economic development and reduce costs, Goldwind also plans to establish a hybrid tower factory within the Kingdom.

Driving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

The PIF Wave 5 Wind Projects are a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, reduce reliance on oil, and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2060. A key objective of Vision 2030 is to generate 50% of the Kingdom's electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The PIF is committed to developing 70% of the nation's renewable energy target capacity by this deadline.

These wind projects are an integral part of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). The Shaqra project is slated to commence production in the fourth quarter of 2027, with the Starah project following in the first quarter of 2028. Once fully operational, the wind farm is projected to generate an estimated 11.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, contributing approximately 2.4% to Saudi Arabia's national power generation based on 2024 figures, and significantly reducing carbon emissions by over 9.3 million tons per year.