Sakaka Solar Power Plant – 300MW Utility-Scale PV Project (Saudi Arabia, 2021)

The desert of northern Saudi Arabia shows no mercy. Summer surface temperatures exceed 50°C, ultraviolet radiation cuts like invisible blades, and sandstorms strike without warning. This is where Sakaka Solar Project (300MW)—Saudi Arabia's first utility-scale photovoltaic plant—began operation in 2021.
This landmark project under the nation's Vision 2030 strategy demanded more than ordinary cables. It required a power transmission system that truly speaks the language of the desert. We provided exactly that: a solution proven in extreme environments.
Between rows of solar panels, slender H1Z2Z2-K solar cables handle the most fundamental yet critical task—stringing panels together. Their double-layer insulation acts as dual armor: the outer layer withstands UV assault and sand erosion, while the inner layer safeguards conductor integrity. The LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) feature means even in worst-case scenarios, they release no toxic gases—a crucial consideration for government projects prioritizing public safety. With over 600,000 meters installed, they form the most numerous energy arteries across this desert landscape.
As currents converge, sturdier transmission channels become necessary. PV DC trunk cables in 16mm² to 35mm² configurations create low-loss energy corridors between combiner boxes and inverters. We precisely selected each segment based on distance and load requirements, ensuring efficiency without the cost burden of over-engineering.
Power must step up to travel far. MV-105 medium voltage cables operate reliably at 15kV and 33kV levels, delivering inverter output to step-up substations. Their insulation materials are specially modified to maintain flexibility under extreme heat, preventing micro-cracking caused by repeated thermal expansion and contraction—the most common hidden failure mode for desert cables.
For the final long-distance leap to grid connection, YJV/XLPE high voltage cables complete the mission. Ranging from 240mm² to 400mm², their XLPE insulation provides excellent tracking resistance, maintaining long-term stability despite dramatic desert temperature swings between day and night.
Inside the unseen control cabinets, KVV control cables and KVVP shielded control cables form the neural network of intelligent systems. The former handle routine signal transmission, while the latter protect control commands from electromagnetic interference at inverters and critical equipment. For certain cabinet applications, we flexibly substituted H07V-K, striking the optimal balance between performance and cost.
Every meter of this system carries TUV certification and UL4703 certification. For Saudi government projects, these aren't decorations—they're mandatory tickets to bid shortlists. They represent passage of 25-year equivalent aging tests, international validation of extreme environment adaptability, and our底气 to promise clients "zero failure."
Client Challenges: When Ambition Meets the Desert
In 2021, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 renewable energy strategy needed a breakthrough showcase. Sakaka offered excellent solar resources but extreme conditions—persistent summer heat, globally intense UV radiation, and frequent sandstorms.
The EPC contractor (within ACWA Power's system) faced layered anxieties:
Technical: Ordinary cables age exponentially at 50°C. Insulation embrittlement, conductor oxidation, jacket cracking—any could trigger system failures. The government's 25-year design life mandate meant cables had to perform consistently across the entire project lifecycle.
Certification: Sovereign fund-involved projects enforce brutal supply chain scrutiny. Clients explicitly preferred European standards and TUV-certified products; any certification gap meant automatic disqualification.
Cost: Individual projects scale to hundreds of megawatts, with cable demands reaching millions of meters. Price competitiveness had to coexist with mass supply capability.
They needed no product pile-up, but a partner who truly understood deserts and long-cycle project risks.
Our Approach: From Selling Cables to Solving Problems
At first contact, clients posed the classic technical challenge: What makes your cables survive 25 years under Saudi sun?
We didn't list specifications. We showed certifications—TUV certification simulating 25-year equivalent aging, UL4703 certification validating extreme environment adaptability. While competitors emphasized "cost-effectiveness," we proved "zero failure" is a technical promise backed by international standards.
But certification is merely entry. True partnership began with scene-deep understanding.
Our technical team surveyed the Sakaka site, discovering clients' "UV resistance" understanding remained superficial. Desert UV doesn't just deliver high intensity—it pairs with dramatic day-night temperature swings causing material thermal cycling. We adjusted H1Z2Z2-K jacket formulations to enhance crack resistance, adding special anti-aging additives within the double insulation structure.
For MV-105 medium voltage cable selection, MV-105 medium voltage cables engineered to UL 1072 (RHH/RHW-2) standards take on the challenge. These 5kV-rated cables feature EPR insulation and CPE jackets that laugh at 90°C wet/dry operating temperatures—critical when desert sands hit 50°C and thermal management becomes survival. clients initially leaned toward conservative specifications. We used ampacity calculations and voltage drop modeling to prove 185mm² could substitute 240mm² over-engineering in specific sections—optimizing cost while ensuring safety. This data-driven recommendation won the technical team's trust.

KVVP shielded control cable deployment stemmed from one detail: inverter control signals suffer electromagnetic interference. We proactively proposed shielded structures for critical control loops—a recommendation later proven to prevent multiple potential communication failures.
Delivery Execution: The Supply Chain Test of Million-Meter Orders
Post-contract, real challenges began. Sakaka's total cable demand exceeded one million meters across five batches; any delay would cascade through construction milestones.
We launched dedicated production scheduling, implementing full-process tracking from copper rod procurement to insulation extrusion. Addressing Saudi shipping's long cycles and harsh desert transport conditions, we customized moisture-proof and dust-proof packaging, labeling each drum with detailed installation zone information for easy on-site identification.
Most memorable was the third batch delivery during global shipping space shortages. We coordinated alternative routes, airlifting partial specifications via Dubai to ensure critical materials arrived three days ahead of schedule. The EPC project manager later noted this "buffer" provided precious relief when civil works fell behind.
Field Validation: From Blueprint to Reality
Since 2021 commissioning, we've maintained regular communication with O&M teams. The first summer's heat test proved critical—when temperatures held above 48°C for three consecutive weeks, H1Z2Z2-K surface temperatures exceeded 75°C, yet insulation resistance tests showed performance degradation within expected ranges.
A sandstorm in year three prompted inspection of buried YJV/XLPE high voltage cable sections: jackets intact, joints moisture-free. These field data continuously validated our 25-year life design.
Clients offered no direct praise, but shared our information with other project teams within ACWA Power's system—this silent recommendation outweighs any testimonial.
Why Choose Us? Core Differentiation
Certification Completeness: TUV and UL4703 dual certifications aren't universally available—directly determining entry to Saudi government project shortlists.
Scene Understanding Depth: We don't just sell cables; we provide full-process technical support from selection to optimization to delivery. H07V-K substitution recommendations, MV-105 precise sizing—all add value based on project experience.
Supply Chain Resilience: Million-meter order on-time delivery capability grows increasingly scarce amid global logistics volatility.
Long-Cycle Commitment: 25 years isn't a marketing number—it's validated by certification testing, materials science, and project track records.
Your Project Deserves the Same Treatment
Sakaka Solar Project (300MW) has become a Saudi renewable energy benchmark. Our cables continue working silently in the desert, transforming sunlight into current.
If you're planning Middle East or other extreme-environment new energy projects, if you need more than a supplier—a partner who truly understands long-cycle risks—Let's talk.
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.
Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 135 1078 4550 / +86 136 6257 9592
Email: manager01@greaterwire.com