ACWA Power and Bapco Energies have signed a Joint Development Agreement to jointly develop a utility-scale, multi-phase solar power project of up to 2.8 GW with integrated battery energy storage. The agreement, announced in December 2025, sets out a cross-border electricity supply structure linking solar generation in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with demand centers in Bahrain. The initiative supports grid flexibility, optimized dispatch, and long-term power reliability, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Developers | ACWA Power; Bapco Energies |
| Location | Saudi Arabia Eastern Province to Bahrain |
| Technology | Utility-scale solar PV; large-scale BESS |
| Planned Capacity | Up to 2.8 GW |
| Project Structure | Multi-phase development |
| Power Delivery | Cross-border grid interconnection |
ACWA Power, a Riyadh-based power generation and Desalination Company in Saudi Arabia and Bapco Energies, a Bahrain-based national energy company, have signed a Joint Development Agreement for a utility-scale solar power project integrated with large-scale battery energy storage systems. The agreement was announced at the Saudi–Bahraini Coordination Council meeting in December 2025.
The agreement outlines a cross-border electricity supply structure connecting solar generation facilities in the Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province with electricity demand centers in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It also sets out plans for the joint development of a multi-phase solar power plant with a total installed capacity of up to 2.8 GW. The project will integrate to integrate battery energy storage systems to support power flow management, optimize dispatch scheduling, enhance grid flexibility and support reliable electricity supply.
The electricity generated by the project is scheduled to be transmitted to Bapco Energies’ load centers in Bahrain through cross-border grid infrastructure. The integrated storage component is expected to support coordinated power delivery and system balancing between generation and demand across national grids.
The project aligns with Bapco Energies’ Bahrain National Energy Strategy and supports cross-border electricity cooperation within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The project adds to ACWA Power’s portfolio of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage assets.
Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ACWA Power, said the agreement builds on existing energy cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, under the oversight of the Saudi Ministry of Energy.
Mark Thomas, Group CEO of Bapco Energies, said the arrangement fits within the company’s diversification strategy and regional cooperation framework, supporting long-term electricity supply planning for Bahrain through renewable generation.