Saudi Arabia’s first wind turbine inaugurated by Aramco in Turaif

Saudi Aramco inaugurated the Kingdom’s first wind turbine for electricity generation in January 2017 in Turaif, a governorate in the Northern Borders Region, the company announced.

Project background and site selection

The turbine marked an early step in Saudi Arabia’s adoption of wind energy for power generation, supplying electricity to Aramco’s petroleum products distribution facility. Aramco evaluated four potential locations before selecting Turaif for the project.

The governorate was chosen for its favourable wind resources, ease of access and availability of connections to the electricity grid, making it suitable for wind-powered generation.

Technical specifications

The turbine has a maximum generation capacity of 2.75 megawatts. It stands on an 85-metre tower, with a rotor diameter of 120 metres. At their highest point, the blade tips reach approximately 145 metres above ground level.

The turbine was designed with protective specifications suited to the harsh conditions of the desert environment.

Power supply and estimated savings

At the time of its inauguration, Aramco estimated that the turbine’s electricity output would be sufficient to meet the needs of approximately 250 homes. The company also projected that the turbine could save the equivalent of around 19,000 barrels of oil annually by reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.

The turbine was connected to the electricity distribution network serving Aramco’s petroleum products distribution facility in Turaif. According to the company, the project was designed to cover the facility’s entire electricity demand, with any surplus electricity supplied to the main power grid.