A media feature from Kaust University
Powering Ahead with Solar Energy
Governments, academics and businesses must work together to fulfill the potential of solar energy, a group of experts has been told.
A Solar Energy Coordination and Communication Workshop held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has accelerated moves to introduce the solar energy industry in the Kingdom.
His Excellency Dr Khaled Al Sulaiman, Vice-President for Renewable Energy at the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), told the gathering about recent mandates received from the government declaring that nuclear and renewables would be among the energy options adopted by Saudi Arabia.
"KACARE has been given responsibility to guide renewable energy efforts," he said. "We are charged with technology development and investigating nuclear and renewable energy resources."
"We can do it — I mean all of us, all stakeholders in Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with others globally. There will be no turf fighting or the marking of territories."
His Excellency Dr Abdullah Al Shehri, Governor of the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA), spoke about the feasibility of renewable energy sources contributing to the Kingdom’s power supply. And Ahmed Al Khowaiter, Director of New Business Development at Saudi Aramco, described the company’s efforts to drive solar energy development in Saudi Arabia.
Amin Al Shibani, KAUST’s Vice–President of Economic Development, said: "The introduction of a new industry, any industry in any nation, is faced with a lot of obstacles and challenges. With determination and leadership the key stakeholders will overcome these obstacles."
The workshop, which attracted 140 delegates from the Kingdom and abroad, followed the publication of a report entitled Saudi Arabia Solar Energy Study: Manufacturing and Technology Assessment by KAUST’s Industry Collaboration Department.
The main objectives of the workshop were to share information about solar initiatives in the Kingdom, form a mechanism to encourage cooperation and communication, coordinate strategies and lay the foundations for the introduction of a solar energy industry in Saudi Arabia.
Professor Ghassan Jabbour, Director of KAUST’s Solar and Alternative Energy Engineering Research Center, said his facility’s mission was to make solar energy low–cost and therefore commercially viable.
"Our main wealth is knowledge," he added. "We must encourage the process or we won’t move an inch forward. Our center is investing in the human mind."
Follow the link if you would like to see a lovely picture of our man Jabbour!
www.kaust.edu.sa/media/features/solarEnergy.html
