Saudi Arabia: Solar energy on the agenda again

Contractors are looking at a major new business stream from ambitious projects to exploit Saudi Arabia’s outstanding solarity (some 4,000 hrs/yr of sunshine, and average annual solar irradiation exceeding 1,800kWh/m2); conference organisers are lining up to hold events across the Gulf and in Europe that highlight the commitment of Saudi and other Gulf administrations to renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions. For all its historic commitment to oil, this is not the first time that harnessing solar energy has been mooted as a solution to the kingdom’s energy problems. But with national oil company Saudi Aramco’s annual report warning that local demand for crude had increased “to the point where volumes meant for exports may fall to unacceptably low levels in the coming two decades”, pressure is mounting on several fronts for a more diversified energy policy to be implemented.