An Unusual Scene in Saudi Arabia.. What is a Herd of Deer Doing Inside a Solar Power Station?

- The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved a new global precedent in the field of environmental and wildlife conservation, successfully launching a program for the breeding of the sand gazelle, which is at risk of extinction, within the scope of a solar power station, according to a statement published on the official website of the Saudi Press Agency "SPA" on Monday. After a successful seven-month trial period that concluded in October 2025, the program moved to the actual breeding phase in May 2026 by introducing 38 sand gazelles (33 females and 5 males) to the site of the station.

Scientific estimates indicate that the first births of the herd are expected in December, with the numbers projected to increase to around 600 gazelles by 2031. According to the statement, the success of the reintroduction in the reserve, which spans 24,500 square kilometers, requires a founding group of no less than 500 gazelles.

Andrew Zaloumis, the CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority, clarified that the goal of the initiative is to build self-sustaining wildlife populations capable of surviving in the wild without the need for continuous human intervention. A safe environment for the gazelles The statement noted that the station provides a safe environment for breeding, as the surrounding fence has helped protect the animals from predators, while the solar panels have contributed to reducing ground surface temperatures by about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius by providing shade, which has increased the reserve's capacity for caring for and breeding animals by 15 times.

The station also allows a specialized team of environmental inspectors to continuously monitor the animals' behavior, health, and breeding success. The sand gazelle was chosen for its ecological importance and suitability to the nature of the site.

Its size allows it to move freely beneath the solar panels without affecting the infrastructure. This initiative, named "ReWildingVoltaics," is in collaboration with "Amala Sustainable Energy" (the alliance formed by the "EDF" and "Masdar" groups), along with "SUEZ" and "Korea East-West Power" (EWP), where the station spans an area of 505 hectares and provides 100% clean energy to the "Amala" destination of the Red Sea International Company.