Renewable energy resource facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Prospects, social and political challenges

ABSTRACT

This paper aims at discussing the renewable energy resource facilities in delivering parts of the energy needs in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Renewable energy resources include biomass, hydraulic, solar, wind, geothermal, wave, tidal, biogas, and ocean thermal energy. Biomass is used to meet a variety energy needs, including generating electricity, heating homes, fueling vehicles, and providing process heat for industrial facilities. KSA is the world’s largest crude oil exporter. The KSA government has developed an energy policy aimed at diversifying energy sources and suppliers and attracting private sector. Special attention in the government’s energy policy is renewable and nuclear power generation. The kingdom has developed and implemented several energy efficiency projects, aiming to increase energy efficiency in industry, transport, and residential sectors. The review provides information on the government’s developing energy policy by using renewable energy potential. Saudi Arabia plans to increase renewable energy production in the near future. The sharp growth of the energy sector has been accompanied by institutional reforms.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• geothermal
• renewable energy
• Saudi Arabia
• solar