KACARE to lead Kingdom’s solar energy drive

King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) will begin implementation of its solar energy strategy this year, hoping to save the Kingdom up to 520,000 barrels of oil per day by 2032.
Deputy President of KACARE Walid Abu Al-Faraj, who was addressing the opening session of Saudi 4th Solar Energy Forum yesterday in Riyadh, said KACARE plans to make a big shift in the Kingdom by converting it into a country with sustainable energy system that will hopefully boost the strength of its national economy.
By organizing the forum, KACARE is geared to introducing sustainable energy in the Kingdom in line with its needs for years to come, he said.
Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan, president of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY), said oil wealth is set to deplete and it was necessary to find other sources of alternative energy.
This will be attained through intensifying studies on removing obstacles facing the production and storage of renewable energy, notably solar energy, he said.
Based on some reports, world investments in solar energy amounted to $ 136 billion in 2011 and produced 65 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. However, production is modest compared to the world’s growing need that is increasing by 2 percent per year, he said.
The energy strategy in the Kingdom is based on the development of alternative and sustainable energy by encouraging both public and private sector firms to carry out studies and projects in the solar energy industry, the RCJY chief said.
As one of agencies concerned with energy issues, RCJY is working with its counterparts to support all efforts aimed at promoting renewable energy. Additionally, all cities affiliated to RCJY contain a series of industries related to this area with investments exceeding SR 4.2 billion, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Deputy President of King Abdullah City for Solar Energy (KACSE) Khalid Sulaiman said solar energy would provide more than 20 percent of the Kingdom’s power needs by 2032 whereas other alternative sources, such as wind and nuclear reactors, will provide 60 percent of such needs.
He said the Kingdom plans to produce 41 GW of electricity by 2032 through solar energy.
KACARE is capable of localizing 80 percent of solar energy potential, he said, describing the Kingdom’s move toward alternative energy sources as courageous initiatives.
CEO of RCJY Ala Nasif said the use of alternative energy sources in the commission’s jurisdiction would begin in 2020.
He said RCJY would launch awareness programs for its communities on alternative energy and rationalization of power.
The forum, which runs for two days, will bring together experts from inside and outside the Kingdom to explore the future of solar energy. Specialized workshops will also be organized to deal with the implementation and economics of solar energy.