How Saudi Arabia is harnessing its abundance of renewable energy resources

A view of Acwa Power's solar farm in Sakaka in Saudi Arabia's northern province of Al-Jouf. (Acwa Power photo)
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Updated 05 July 2024
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How Saudi Arabia is harnessing its abundance of renewable energy resources

  • Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in diversifying its energy mix towards renewables to help cut carbon emissions
  • With a focus on wind and solar, the Kingdom aims to source 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030

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.




Duma Al-Jandal wind farm in the nothern Saudi province of Al-Jouf. (Vision 2030 photo)

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.




A view of the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. (AFP/File)

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.




Saudi Arabia also has some small-scale hydroelectric facilities. (Shutterstock photo)

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.




Aerial View of Kamojang Geothermal Power Plant in Garut, West Java, Indonesia. (Shutterstock)

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.




Biogas plant behind a corn field. (Shutterstock photo)

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.

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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.

DID YOUKNOW?

Saudi Arabia is developing some of the world’s largest solar projects, including its Sakaka plant in Al-Jouf.

The Kingdom is developing large-scale wind farms, such as the 400 MW Dumat Al-Jandal wind project.

It is also exploring the potential for ‘green hydrogen’ — produced using renewable energy sources.

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.”
 

 


Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

Updated 4 min 38 sec ago
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Asir launches campaign to promote organic food culture

  • Ahmed Al-Mojathel: Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system
  • Initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society

ABHA: A public awareness campaign by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture kicked off Organic Food 2024 in Saudi Arabia, reported Saudi Press Agency.

Ahmed Al-Mojathel, director of the ministry’s Asir branch, said: “Our goal is to highlight the importance of organic products and foods as a safer, healthier dietary system.

“We are working to enhance consumer awareness about the benefits of organic foods while encouraging innovation and excellence in organic product quality.”

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to promote organic food consumption throughout Saudi society.

Al-Mojathel said the campaign also aimed to achieve economic and social objectives supporting the development of the organic food sector across the Kingdom.


Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

Updated 38 min 50 sec ago
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Officials detained as investigators smash drug-smuggling operation at Al-Jouf Airport

  • 9 people arrested, including Ministry of Interior employee, 4 people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and a Saudi Electricity Company worker

RIYADH: A drug smuggling operation at Al-Jouf International Airport in Saudi Arabia, in which several government and other public-sector officials allegedly were involved, has been shut down following an extensive investigation.

An official source at the Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that nine people were detained, including a ministry employee, four people associated with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and one from the Saudi Electricity Company.

Their alleged roles in the smuggling network included helping to get the drugs into the Kingdom, ensuring shipments bypassed inspections, transporting them, and concealing them in homes and at other locations.

They also engaged in the promotion and distribution of the narcotics in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The amount and type of drugs involved was not immediately apparent.

The Ministry of Interior said it remains committed to confronting all threats to national security and will take stringent action against anyone who jeopardizes the safety and stability of the country.


Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Music Commission launches self-learn digital platform for budding musicians

  • MusiqAI offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments

RIYADH: The Saudi Music Commission has launched an interactive digital platform to teach music to enthusiasts wanting to start playing an instrument or further their musical knowledge.

MusiqAI is the first self-learn digital platform for music in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region. It offers interactive programs to the public and teaches skills for playing Arabic and Western instruments.

The platform name, which includes “AI,” the abbreviation for artificial intelligence, can be translated from Arabic as “My Music.”

The commission said in a statement that MusiqAI offers online courses and trains enthusiasts and professionals on the latest technologies in music production. It also provides accredited certificates, easy access to video streaming courses, and a self-paced learning experience, anytime and from anywhere.

MusiqAI aims to offer a unique way of learning various music genres — in Saudi Arabia and globally — whether by picking an Arabic or Western instrument such as the drums, guitar or oud, and communicating with trainers and experts on the platform.

The commission said nurturing and supporting musical talent are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. In March, the commission launched the Saudi Music Memory initiative to highlight the history of Saudi art and offer academically documented research for musicians and researchers.

To register on the MusiqAI platform, visit the commission website: https://music.moc.gov.sa/en 


OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

Updated 14 November 2024
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OIC discusses draft humanitarian funds statute

  • It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute
  • Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds

JEDDAH: The general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held a meeting of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts in Jeddah on Thursday.
It discussed the draft humanitarian funds statute, in accordance with the Council of Foreign Ministers.
OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said that the meeting was held amid difficult and harsh humanitarian circumstances that required concerted efforts and collective action to adopt actions to help contain humanitarian crises and hardships.
In his speech, Taha added that it was important to make every effort to finalize the statute of these funds, undertake the necessary reforms to their working mechanism and support them with the financial resources to enable them to fulfil their role.
The statement delivered by assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural and social affairs, ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, on behalf of OIC’s secretary-general, highlighted the significant challenges faced by member states in the humanitarian field.


KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

Updated 14 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes shelter supplies in Afghanistan

  • KSrelief will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies

KABUL: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has launched a shelter project for people returning from Pakistan to Afghanistan and victims of the 2024 floods.

It will distribute 4,882 shelter items, such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other supplies across the provinces of Kabul, Ghazni, Bamyan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Baghlan, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Herat, Nimroz, Nangarhar and Laghman. The project will help 29,292 people.

The scheme is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.