EDF and TAQA Geothermal Forge a Historic Partnership for Geothermal Energy Advancement in Saudi Arabia
On February 13, 2025, in a significant stride toward sustainable energy, EDF Saudi Arabia and TAQA Geothermal Energy Company entered into a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the PIF Private Sector Forum held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. This agreement seeks to foster collaboration on geothermal energy technologies, specifically focusing on power generation and HVAC applications, as well as compressed air energy storage in Saudi Arabia.
The MoU was signed by Omar Aldaweesh, CEO of EDF Saudi Arabia, and Meshary Al-Ayed, CEO of TAQA Geothermal Energy Company. This collaboration underscores both firms' commitment to advancing innovative and decarbonized energy technologies in the Kingdom. The event was graced by Gudmundur Thoroddsson, TAQA Geothermal's Chief Technology Officer and President of Reykjavik Geothermal, one of the joint venture’s partners.
Omar Aldaweesh discussed the significance of the MoU, stating, "This partnership is a natural evolution of EDF's longstanding commitment to the Saudi energy sector. Over the past decade, we have actively contributed to the Kingdom's energy landscape through our expertise in sustainable solutions. This MoU further solidifies our role in promoting innovative technologies. By collaborating with TAQA Geothermal, we aim to explore new frontiers in geothermal energy and compressed air energy storage, aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and our own EDF 2035 ambitions."
Meshary Al-Ayed added, "Harnessing geothermal energy—whether through direct heat applications or electricity generation—is a vital and untapped resource driving the global shift toward clean energy. Our partnership with EDF is set to redefine cooling solutions, yielding significant impacts on efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. Combining our strengths will demonstrate cutting-edge geothermal cooling systems to meet the Kingdom's growing energy needs and support Saudi Arabia's economic diversification initiatives as outlined in Vision 2030."
This collaboration sets the groundwork for pioneering geothermal energy solutions in Saudi Arabia, creating pathways for cleaner and more efficient energy and cooling technologies. By harnessing their combined expertise, TAQA Geothermal and EDF aspire to unlock the full potential of geothermal resources, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's position as a leader in renewable energy innovation.
The EDF Group is a key player in the energy transition, functioning as an integrated energy operator involved in all aspects of energy business from generation to distribution, marketing, and energy services. As a global leader in low-carbon energy, EDF boasts a low-carbon production rate of 434 TWh, primarily from nuclear and renewable energy sources, including hydropower. The group is also investing in new technologies to support the energy transition, with a mission focused on creating a net-zero energy future through innovative electricity solutions and services.
TAQA Geothermal, a joint venture between TAQA—a majority State-owned upstream engineering and energy services firm—and Reykjavik Geothermal, a leading force in geothermal resources and project development, was established in 2023. The joint venture, announced during the Public Investment Fund forum in March 2023, is actively engaged in regional and international geothermal consultancy and project management, with ongoing projects in and outside Saudi Arabia. Their initiatives align with the vision of providing clean, reliable, and sustainable geothermal energy for the region.
The MoU was signed by Omar Aldaweesh, CEO of EDF Saudi Arabia, and Meshary Al-Ayed, CEO of TAQA Geothermal Energy Company. This collaboration underscores both firms' commitment to advancing innovative and decarbonized energy technologies in the Kingdom. The event was graced by Gudmundur Thoroddsson, TAQA Geothermal's Chief Technology Officer and President of Reykjavik Geothermal, one of the joint venture’s partners.
Omar Aldaweesh discussed the significance of the MoU, stating, "This partnership is a natural evolution of EDF's longstanding commitment to the Saudi energy sector. Over the past decade, we have actively contributed to the Kingdom's energy landscape through our expertise in sustainable solutions. This MoU further solidifies our role in promoting innovative technologies. By collaborating with TAQA Geothermal, we aim to explore new frontiers in geothermal energy and compressed air energy storage, aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and our own EDF 2035 ambitions."
Meshary Al-Ayed added, "Harnessing geothermal energy—whether through direct heat applications or electricity generation—is a vital and untapped resource driving the global shift toward clean energy. Our partnership with EDF is set to redefine cooling solutions, yielding significant impacts on efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. Combining our strengths will demonstrate cutting-edge geothermal cooling systems to meet the Kingdom's growing energy needs and support Saudi Arabia's economic diversification initiatives as outlined in Vision 2030."
This collaboration sets the groundwork for pioneering geothermal energy solutions in Saudi Arabia, creating pathways for cleaner and more efficient energy and cooling technologies. By harnessing their combined expertise, TAQA Geothermal and EDF aspire to unlock the full potential of geothermal resources, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's position as a leader in renewable energy innovation.
About EDF Group
The EDF Group is a key player in the energy transition, functioning as an integrated energy operator involved in all aspects of energy business from generation to distribution, marketing, and energy services. As a global leader in low-carbon energy, EDF boasts a low-carbon production rate of 434 TWh, primarily from nuclear and renewable energy sources, including hydropower. The group is also investing in new technologies to support the energy transition, with a mission focused on creating a net-zero energy future through innovative electricity solutions and services.
About TAQA Geothermal Energy Company
TAQA Geothermal, a joint venture between TAQA—a majority State-owned upstream engineering and energy services firm—and Reykjavik Geothermal, a leading force in geothermal resources and project development, was established in 2023. The joint venture, announced during the Public Investment Fund forum in March 2023, is actively engaged in regional and international geothermal consultancy and project management, with ongoing projects in and outside Saudi Arabia. Their initiatives align with the vision of providing clean, reliable, and sustainable geothermal energy for the region.
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