Dar Al Arkan to acquire and develop residential villas in SEDRA 1A
Updated 15 April 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading national real estate developer, signed a SR215 million ($57.3 million) sale and purchase agreement with partner developer Dar Al Arkan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Under the agreement, Dar Al Arkan will acquire and develop residential villas in SEDRA 1A, which is in northern Riyadh.
ROSHN’s latest collaboration with a Saudi developer is part of the company’s overall strategy to team up with best-in-class entities in a variety of domain-specific services.
Islamic University of Kyrgyzstan awards honorary doctorate to Prophet’s Mosque imam
Updated 23 sec ago
SPA
BISHKEK: The Islamic University of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek awarded an honorary doctorate to Sheikh Dr. Salah bin Mohammed Al-Budair, imam of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, in recognition of his continuous service to Islam and Muslims.
The announcement was made during an official reception at the university, attended by Saudi Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Ibrahim bin Radi Al-Radi, university president and Council of Scholars member Abdulshakur bin Islam Narmatov, along with university officials and students.
Narmatov expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their service to Islam, Muslims, the Two Holy Mosques, and other holy sites. He prayed for Saudi Arabia’s protection and prosperity.
Culinary event in Japan to highlight rich Saudi culture
Updated 36 min 15 sec ago
SPA
RIYADH: The Culinary Arts Commission will host the Taste of Saudi Culture event in Tokyo, Japan, from Nov. 8-10, showcasing the rich culinary culture of Saudi Arabia and highlighting the diversity of dishes in the Kingdom.
The event will feature booths presenting authentic Saudi dishes and products, live performances and a range of other cultural activities.
It highlights the commission’s efforts to promote Saudi culinary arts internationally and showcase the Kingdom’s culture.
Saudi Arabia to expand studies of ancient mustatil stone structures
Mustatils among oldest human-made structures, dating to about 4200-5400 B.C.
Key part of nation’s culture, says Heritage Commission CEO Dr. Jasser Al-Harbash
Updated 26 October 2024
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission will expand research and excavation efforts at new mustatil sites in the Kingdom, scientists said at a recent meeting of the body.
The commission held an open virtual meeting to discuss the recent findings on mustatils — some of the world’s oldest human-made stone structures — in the Hail region.
During the meeting, scientists stressed the importance of expanding the scope of their studies, and presented some of their preliminary findings.
They plan to focus on the environmental dimensions of mustatils, linking them to climate changes that affected the region during that period.
These studies are expected to provide a deeper understanding of ancient societies and how they adapted to their natural environment.
The researchers emphasized that these structures provide evidence of civilizations that developed in the region thousands of years ago and had played a central role in the lives of these communities.
Studies have been carried out using the latest archaeological technology, including aerial photography and 3D scanning, to analyze the sites more accurately and uncover new information about the structures.
The meeting began with a speech by the Heritage Commission’s CEO Dr. Jasser Al-Harbash who highlighted the importance of mustatils and their role in enhancing archaeological understanding of the Arabian Peninsula’s history.
Al-Harbash said mustatils are among the oldest archaeological structures in the Middle East, dating to between 4200 and 5400 B.C.
He highlighted the commission’s focus on collaboration and partnership with researchers and enthusiasts, to help reveal the cultural and social significance of mustatils.
Al-Harbash said it was vitally important to document and preserve them as an important element of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture is carrying out extensive studies on the mustatils, which are mostly found in the northwestern part of the country.
Dr. Salma Hawsawi, a professor of ancient history at King Saud University, spoke to Arab News about how Saudi Arabia has a significant number of stone circles, mounds, and other similar structures scattered across the country.
Many have been discovered in the region north of Madinah, particularly in Khaybar, Fadak and AlUla. These are made up of large slabs of stones arranged in triangles, squares, arches, ovals and heaps.
Hawsawi explained that these circles and mounds form geometric shapes, which may be connected or separate.
During the virtual meeting the researchers were asked about construction techniques, the connection between mustatils and climate changes, and the methods being used to preserve these archaeological sites.
Security Operations Center hosts Dhahran exhibition
Updated 26 October 2024
SPA
DHAHRAN: The Unified Security Operations Center in the Eastern Province is hosting an introductory and awareness exhibition at the Dhahran Complex until Oct. 26.
The exhibition aims to familiarize citizens, residents, and visitors with the security and humanitarian services offered by the center through the unified 911 emergency number.
The center serves 13 governorates, including the city of Dammam, by consolidating the operations of 29 different control rooms under one roof, all accessible through the single emergency number 911.
This initiative is part of the Ministry of Interior’s projects, implemented in collaboration with the Quality of Life Program, a key pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
How investment in solar capacity is powering Saudi Arabia’s sustainable energy future
With a goal of sourcing 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in solar
The Kingdom plans to generate 58.7 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with 40 GW of this sourced from solar PV
Updated 25 October 2024
Ghadi Joudah
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is embarking on a transformative journey to establish itself as a key player in the global renewable energy sector.
With a goal of sourcing 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, the Kingdom is investing heavily in solar energy, capitalizing on its abundant sunlight.
This commitment is part of the broader National Renewable Energy Program strategy, aimed at diversifying its energy portfolio and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
By the end of the decade, Saudi Arabia aims to generate 58.7 gigawatts of renewable energy. This includes 40 GW from solar photovoltaics, alongside 16 GW from wind energy and 2.7 GW from concentrated solar power.
The scale of this initiative underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to a sustainable energy future.
In 2024, Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi minister for energy, announced plans to tender new renewable energy projects with an annual capacity of 20 GW. This could potentially lead to a total capacity of 100-130 GW by 2030.
The pace of these developments will depend on the growth in electricity demand, indicating a proactive approach to meeting future energy needs.
A significant milestone was reached on June 26, 2023, when the Saudi Power Procurement Company signed power purchase agreements for three new solar PV projects totaling 5.5 GW.
These are Haden Solar PV in Makkah Province with 2,000 megawatts, Al-Muwayh Solar PV in Makkah Province with a further 2,000 MW, and Al-Khushaybi PV in Qassim Province with 1,500 MW.
Several solar power plants are already operational. These include the Sakaka Solar PV Park, the first project under the NREP, generating 300 MW in Al-Jawf.
Another is Rabigh Solar PV Park at Rabigh Industrial City in Makkah region, which generates 400 MW, and Jubail 3B IWP Solar PV Park which produces 45.5 MW, powering the Jubail 3A water desalination plant in Eastern Province.
Rabigh Solar PV Park at Rabigh Industrial City generates 400 MW. (Supplied)
The Haradh Solar PV Park generates 30 MW in Eastern Province, and Al-Kharj Solar PV Park produces 15 MW in Riyadh.
Looking ahead, several major solar projects are in the planning stages, such as Al-Sadawi Independent Power Producer Solar Power Plant, set to have a capacity of 2,000 MW.
Sudair Solar PV Project has a planned capacity of 1,500 MW in Riyadh. Al-Masa’a IPP Solar Power Plant will generate 1,000 MW in Hail, while Ar Rass Solar PV Park is expected to have a capacity of 700 MW in Al-Qassim.
These upcoming projects demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s positive approach to expanding its renewable energy capabilities and its readiness to meet growing energy demands.
Despite these advancements, experts have cautioned against overestimating the impact of current growth.
“Saudi Arabia has a yearly energy demand of about 400 terawatt hours,” Michael Salvador, co-founder and CEO of Mirai Solar and technology lead at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology’s Solar Center, told Arab News.
“To meet this need solely through renewables, approximately 200 GW of installations would be required.”
The recent addition of 2 GWs represents roughly 1 percent of that demand, all while energy consumption is rapidly increasing, he said.
DID YOUKNOW?
• Saudi Arabia aims to source 50 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.
• The Kingdom plans to generate 58.7 GW of renewable energy by 2030, with 40 GW from solar PV.
• Between 2022 and 2024, it added 2.1 GW of renewable capacity, enough to power more than 520,000 homes.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment has highlighted the need for further investment to optimize these large-scale solar projects that are part of NREP to leverage the Kingdom’s abundant natural resources for renewable energy production.
To do this, the government is also capitalizing on its access to large regional markets, its growing knowledge-driven economy, and an ecosystem designed to attract investors.
Between 2022 and early 2024, Saudi Arabia added 2.1 GW of renewable power capacity — a 300 percent increase from the 700 MW that was created between 2012 and 2022.
Since 2022, some 2,100 MW of renewable energy has been added to the grid, totaling 2,800 MW. This is enough to power more than 520,000 homes.
“While the 300 percent increase sounds impressive, it’s crucial to recognize that it’s just a start,” said Salvador. “If we think of it in terms of absolute energy needs, the challenge remains substantial.”
In December 2023, Saudi officials announced how the Kingdom intended to achieve net zero by 2060. They highlighted more than 80 initiatives, funded by a $188 billion investment, for a greener future.
Founded in 2019 as a spinoff from KAUST, Mirai Solar is pioneering innovative solar panel technology aimed at enhancing PV efficiency. The firm has championed the concept of “PV shading,” which utilizes blocked sunlight to generate electricity.
This technology has promising applications across various sectors, including sustainable agriculture and electric vehicle charging stations.
“To accelerate the energy transition, we need both utility-scale deployment and decentralized renewable energy solutions,” said Salvador.
Opinion
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While the government has primarily focused on large-scale projects, Salvador said he supports smaller, decentralized systems that can be quickly implemented and have a meaningful impact, provided the right legislative and financial incentives are in place.
The environmental benefits of Saudi Arabia’s push for solar energy are significant. Salvador calculates that generating 4 TWh of energy from solar could potentially avoid 2.8 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 6.5 million barrels of oil.
This reduction aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to a greener future.
Salvador believes a greater focus is needed on educating the public about why renewables are important from an economic and environmental perspective if solar technology development is to succeed in Saudi Arabia.
“Create incentives for everyone to consider and adopt renewable energy solutions,” he said. “Now, this can’t be implemented overnight. Things like grid stability need to be considered first.”
However, he said promoting innovation specific to the country will help accelerate the transformation. “Shading is, for me, a prominent example because it’s everywhere. Shading could power schools, hospitals, universities, office buildings, and food production.”
Salvador said it was also crucial to highlight research in future technologies.
Combo image showing KAUST postdoctoral fellow Esma Ugur displays the perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell that she and team researchers in the KAUST Photovoltaics Laboratory developed (left) and a close view of the Close view of the tandem solar cell, recognized as the world’s most efficient silicon/perovskite tandem solar cell (right). (Photos courtesy of KAUST)
“KAUST is a good example, where the research group of Stefaan de Wolf has established multiple world records of a new and promising technology called silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, which could revolutionize the manufacturing of solar panels,” he said.
As Saudi Arabia positions itself at the forefront of the renewable energy transition, the combination of government support, technological innovation, and strategic investment will be crucial in realizing its ambitious goals in solar energy.
The Kingdom’s solar power surge is not only vital for local energy security but also plays a significant role in combating climate change and promoting sustainable development in the region.
