As experts and WikiLeaks previously detailed, the country's oil supply may be fast dwindling and that has made renewable energy options, such as solar, that much more appealing. Just this week the country announced that construction of its largest solar power plant will be completed by September.
"The solar market in the Gulf region is still in its infancy," said Klaus Friedl, general manager of Phoenix Solar, the firm contracted to build the new solar plant. "There is, however, a huge potential for solar power plants in Saudi Arabia."
Lotsa sunshine. Transmission potential, not so sunny.
The concern over oil shortages is no longer limited to supplying foreign countries-the rate of domestic consumption in Saudi Arabia is set to triple in the next 20 years to 120 gigawatts, which means that Saudis could foreseeably consume all of their oil just for themselves. "It's really a preservation decision using solar for domestic consumption and keeping your oil for more lucrative export markets," said Vahid Fotuhi, Middle East director of BP Solar. "Right now, out of the 8 million barrels per day they produce, over 3 million barrels per day are consumed domestically, mainly for power generation. That figure is growing 8 percent per annum," said Fotuhi.
Bring on the nukes. Power plants, silly!But solar also has its challenges - sand that covers solar panels can get in the way of energy generation and the cost of infrastructure could be prohibitive.
Solar may cover part of the needs but not all of them depending on subsidies. The main factor will be cost," said Abdullah al-Shehri, governor of Saudi Arabia's Electricity and Co-generation Regulatory Authority.
Fred - can your translator explain that one? Are they going solar or only negotiating with the contractor?
With the recent WikiLeaks revelation that oil quantities in Saudi Arabia have been grossly exaggerated and the earlier revelation by the International Energy Agency that peak oil had in fact already passed in 2006, it's no wonder that Saudi Arabia is feeling a pinch. Whether solar or another renewable source will win the future remains to be seen so far nuclear is in the lead.