Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Records Global First by Breeding Sand Gazelle Inside a Solar Power Park
Tabuk, October 05, 2026, SPA -- Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has achieved a new global first in conservation and wildlife protection with the successful launch of a breeding programme for the Vulnerable Sand gazelle within a 250 MW solar power facility, pioneering an innovative model that integrates renewable energy infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation.
The initiative, named “ReWildingVoltaics,” is being implemented in collaboration with AMAALA Sustainable Company for Energy (ASCE) — a consortium comprising EDF Group and Masdar, together with SUEZ and Korea East-West Power (EWP). The solar facility spans 505 hectares and supplies 100% clean energy to Red Sea Global’s AMAALA destination.
Following a seven-month proof-of-concept exercise launched in October 2025 with Sand gazelle, Mountain gazelle and Arabian hare, the program entered its breeding phase in May 2026, with 33 female and five male Vulnerable Sand gazelles introduced into the solar plant. The first offspring are expected this December. Population modelling by the Reserve's Scientific Services Division indicates the herd will grow to around 600 by 2031. A minimum founder population of 500 is required for successful reintroduction into the 24,500km² Reserve.
CEO of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, Andrew Zaloumis, said: “Our rewilding goal is to build self-sustaining wildlife populations that can survive in the wild without ongoing human intervention. This collaborative innovation not only accelerates that work but also introduces a novel 'double-green' framework with global scalability.”
CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at EDF Group Omar AlDaweesh said: “This initiative demonstrates how renewable energy infrastructure can create value beyond the clean electricity it generates. By bringing biodiversity conservation into an operational solar facility, we are showing how energy infrastructure and nature can coexist. Through ASCE, EDF is proud to contribute to an innovative model that supports Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy and conservation ambitions, with the potential to inspire similar approaches beyond the Kingdom.”
The proof of concept confirmed that the solar park can successfully support wildlife husbandry. Its predator-proof perimeter provides a controlled environment, while the solar panels create shade that reduces ground temperatures by approximately 5°C to 10°C. The protected environment has increased the reserve’s husbandry capacity 15-fold and enables continuous monitoring of animal behavior, health and reproductive success by the reserve’s specialist ranger team.
Sand gazelles were selected for their ecological importance and suitability for the site. As grazers and browsers, they help manage vegetation, disperse seeds and contribute to restoring the reserve’s natural food chain. Their size allows them to move freely beneath the solar panels without affecting the infrastructure.
Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, ReWildingVoltaics goes beyond using solar sites as habitats for wildlife. It uses the protected environment created by renewable-energy infrastructure to develop founder populations for future reintroduction into the wider landscape.
The initiative supports the Saudi Green Initiative’s ambitions to protect 30% of the Kingdom’s land and sea and generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Saudi Arabia's protected-area footprint share has grown from 4.2% to 18.3% over the past decade.
-- SPA
