Saudi Arabian state-owned miner MA'ADEN has agreed to appoint industrial solar steam developer GlassPoint to develop the world's largest solar process heat plant at MA'ADEN's Alumina refinery.
The proposed new facility, a solar thermal plant known as MA'ADEN Solar 1, will be located in Ras al Khair.
The 1,500 MW solar steam facility will reduce MA'ADEN's carbon emissions by over 600,000 tons annually, said the companies, a more than 50% reduction of carbon footprint in MA'ADEN's alumina refinery and 4% of MA'ADEN's overall carbon footprint
The facility when built will be the largest industrial solar steam plant in the world and the first deployed in both Saudi Arabia and in the aluminum supply chain, said Rod MacGregor, CEO and founder of GlassPoint.
Steam will be used to refine bauxite ore into alumina. Alumina is a critical feedstock to Aluminum, which is one of the world's most crucial metals.
MacGregor added: "With this MOU, GlassPoint is entering a new phase of growth to help decarbonize a range of industries seeking to lower their carbon footprint."
