RIYADH: With a goal of sourcing at least 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in diversifying its energy mix toward renewable sources to meet its pledge to cut carbon emissions and promote sustainable development.

To promote public understanding of renewable energy technologies and to advance the goals of Vision 2030, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy launched the Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Riyadh in 2017.

“The National Renewable Energy Program, with all its achieved and under-construction projects, really reflects how promising this strategic initiative is to fulfill Vision 2030,” Reham Aldous, the center’s content and program development manager, told Arab News.

Wind

Saudi Arabia has immense wind energy potential, particularly in its northwestern and coastal regions. The Kingdom has set a target of producing 50 gigawatts of wind energy capacity by 2030.

In 2021, Saudi Arabia inaugurated its first commercial-scale wind farm, the 400-megawatt Dumat Al-Jandal project, which is currently the largest in the Middle East. Additional large-scale wind projects are in the pipeline.

Solar

As one of the sunniest countries in the world, Saudi Arabia has an abundance of solar energy resources. The country aims to install 50 GW of solar capacity by 2030.

Major projects include the 300-MW Sakaka solar plant, the 420-MW Sudair solar park, and the planned 2-GW Al-Shuaibah solar project. Saudi Arabia is also exploring innovative applications like floating solar farms on its reservoirs.

Inaugurated in 2021, the Sakaka Solar Power Plant in Al-Jouf uses photovoltaic technology. Made up of more than 1.2 million solar panels arranged across 6 sq. km, it produces low-cost energy at just $0.023 per kWh.

Besides using photovoltaic cells to capture the sun’s rays, another method is thermal solar energy, where mirrors focus sunlight in a specific spot to collect and concentrate it, allowing for the production of very high temperatures, which are used to generate electricity.

Hydro

Although Saudi Arabia’s hydropower potential is limited due to its limited moving bodies of water, the country does have some small-scale hydroelectric facilities.

The Baisha Dam in the southwest generates about 2.1 MW of power. Saudi Arabia is also investigating the potential for pumped storage hydropower projects.

Geothermal

Saudi Arabia has begun to explore its geothermal energy resources, particularly in the volcanic areas of the Hijaz and Asir mountains.

Pilot projects are underway to assess the viability of geothermal power generation in the Kingdom. Early estimates suggest a potential of up to 3 GW of geothermal capacity.

Bio

Saudi Arabia has made strides in developing its bioenergy sector, focusing primarily on biofuels.

The Kingdom aims to produce 9.5 million liters of bioethanol and 0.3 million liters of biodiesel annually by 2030. Agricultural and municipal waste-to-energy projects are also being explored.

Wind, biofuels, geothermal, and thermal solar energy all use the kinetic energy produced by these resources to move turbines, either directly or by heating water to create steam, thereby generating electricity.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy has been the driving force behind the country’s renewable energy transformation.

The ministry has set clean energy targets, launched competitive bidding for projects, and partnered with local and international stakeholders to develop a robust renewable energy sector.

Through strategic policies, dedicated funding, and collaborative efforts, the Ministry of Energy has been instrumental in positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in the global shift toward sustainable power generation.

The ministry’s comprehensive approach to renewable energy integration has been crucial in diversifying the Kingdom’s energy mix and securing its long-term energy future.

Much of this success, however, is owed to Saudi Arabia’s geography, said Aldous of the Mishkat Interactive Center.

“The Kingdom is characterized by an abundance of renewable energy resources,” she said, “highlighting solar energy and wind energy as the main two green energy resources with great potential.”
 

RIYADH: The resin art pavilion at the “Hail House,” themed “Your Home Away from Home,” now in its third year, has become a major attraction at the Aja Park during its 30-day run.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that visitors of all ages, drawn to this distinctive art form, have flocked to the pavilion amid the festival’s traditional and artistic atmosphere.

Resin art, a modern handcraft, involves blending liquid resin with a hardening agent to create solid, aesthetically pleasing shapes used in various applications.

Artist Layla Saleh Al-Shammari, who has been perfecting the craft for five years, showcased a diverse range of creations including women’s accessories, office and home decor, wall art, pens and serving platters.

Her work incorporates techniques such as sea wave and shell imitations, geode stone replications, and the integration of natural materials such as plants and flowers. Al-Shammari also highlighted her use of local elements such as coffee, cardamom and the red sands characteristic of the Hail region, as well as palm fronds and Thamudic inscriptions.

Al-Shammari outlined the financial viability of her craft due to its high demand, expressing gratitude to the festival organizers for the opportunity to exhibit these handcrafted items in a heritage setting.

The festival also features popular folk art performances, including the Saudi Ardah and Samri dances, which have captivated visitors with their traditional sword dances and chants.

Marsal Al-Marsal, head of the Hail Folk Arts Group, said that “over 30 young performers present eight daily shows, incorporating national themes and traditional instruments like drums and swords.”

The performances showcased traditional Haili arts featuring aerial maneuvers, drums, swords and banners, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Haili folk arts at such festivals among enthusiasts of regional heritage.

The festival aims to introduce visitors to ancestral lifestyles, showcasing traditional food, clothing, housing and everyday life practices, while also presenting various regional and external folk arts and shows.

This year, the Madinah region, represented by Yanbu governorate, is also participating with a special pavilion.

Faisal bin Salem Al-Juhani, the pavilion supervisor, explained that it featured Hijazi architecture, including two 150-year-old houses that demonstrated the distinctive and renowned “rawashin” (projecting oriel windows) of the region. These prominent windows, measuring between 60 cm to more than one meter, not only served ventilation purposes but also enhanced the aesthetic appeal and provided wide vistas for the household members.

The Madinah pavilion includes models of old Madinah neighborhoods, a fully equipped traditional fishing boat representing the western coast, and displays of traditional utensils, clothing and heritage models.

According to Al-Juhani, “the participation aims to promote Saudi cultural heritage, particularly that of the Madinah region.”

Al-Juhani thanked the organizers for providing the platform and opportunity for participation in these well-received events over the past three events. He said that he looked forward to future engagements at Hail House.