Solar Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is blessed with abundant solar energy which is renewable, clean and available freely. It is harnessed through known processes and technologies, but progress towards its commercialization is very slow for several reasons, such as higher cost and low efficiency. This paper reviews our R&D efforts, and concludes that future utilization of solar energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is dependent on current R&D activities in the field, combined with a proper educational campaign for its effective commercialization.

Key words: commercialization, international joint venture, KACST, public awareness, Saudi Arabia, solar energy education and training, solar energy, solar photovoltaic and thermal applications, technology transfer.

Reference to this article should be made as follows: Al-Athel, S.A. (1997) 'Solar energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' Int. J. of Global Energy Issues, Vol. 9. Nos. 1/2, pp. 53-67.

1 INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt that the world is facing two major problems with respect to energy. The first is the continued depletion of fossil fuel reserves. It has been estimated that these reserves will meet our energy needs for only about another 200 years under the most optimistic scenario. The second problem is the dramatic increase in global pollution. A recent estimate puts pollution damage, on a world-wide basis, at more than $1700 billion a year ($10.62/GJ) [1]. In the face of these two problems, solar energy would seem to be the most suitable solution, since it is a clean and abundant energy source.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends from Azimuth 50 to Azimuth 35 and from latitude 17 in the south to latitude 32 in the north. The average annual solar radiation failing on the Arabian Peninsula is about 2200 kWh (th)/m². Figure I shows the annual solar flux contours average over ten years (1971-80), while Figure 2 illustrates the mean of the yearly sums of the duration of the actual sunshine hours in Saudi Arabia [2]. These figures highlight the fact that solar insulation is available in all the areas of Saudi Arabia at high intensity all year round.

Recognizing sun as a major natural resource, with which Saudi Arabia is blessed in abundant measure, it is believed that solar energy is a valuable renewable source of energy that should be fully exploited for the benefit of the country. Even though Saudi Arabia is a leading oil producer, it is keenly interested in taking an active part in developing new technologies based on renewable energy, which can hopefully be considered as alternatives to depletable sources of energy, such as hydrocarbon resources [3]. Owing to their low costs before the seventies, hydrocarbon sources were generously consumed and dissipated. It is the Kingdom's view that such exhaustible resources ought to be more wisely used in developing other products more beneficial and useful to mankind.

From the first photovoltaic beacon established by the French at the small airport of Madinah Munnawara in the early 1960's [4], applications of solar energy in Saudi Arabia are growing: research activities commenced with small scale university projects in 1969, and the systematized major R&D work for the development of solar energy technologies was started by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in 1977 [5, 61. Since then KACST has entered into several cooperation agreements with developed countries concerned with such technologies as a means of transferring solar energy technology to the Kingdom and utilizing it in promoting development.

Two major joint international cooperation programs were introduced to which the Saudi government provides one-half of the funds needed, while the other half is provided by developed countries, such as United States and the Federal Republic of Germany. These joint programs have been directed towards projects that are of mutual interest to both countries and which have concentrated on large demonstration plants, such as electricity generation, desalination, agriculture and cooling systems [7].

This program, which is called SOLERAS (Solar Energy Research - American / Saudi), addressed solar energy technological and economical related issues. SOLERAS began in 1977 and concluded in 1987. A second program, that started in 1989 with US Department of Energy (DOE), will address the other technologies of renewable energy, in addition to solar energy R&D.

In the SOLERAS program, each country contributed US$50 million to the budget. This solar research funding exceeded all expenditures by Saudi Arabia on any solar research activity and the total international solar research commitment of the United States [9]. The program was focused on the following fields of solar energy utilization:

(i) rural / agricultural applications,

(ii) urban applications,

(iii) industrial applications,

(iv) resource development activities.

(i) Rural Agricultural Applications

The major goal was to examine the feasibility of using solar technologies in remote areas. These included the Saudi Solar Village Project and the Saudi Controlled Environment Agricultural Project.

(a) Solar Village Project: The Solar Village Project site is located near the villages of Al-Jubailah, Al Uyaynah and Al-Higera, which are about 50 km northwest of Riyadh. The objective of this project was to use solar energy to provide power to remote villages not served by an electric power grid. The entire photovoltaic project site occupies an area of approximately 67,180 square metres. This computerized 350 kW concentrator photovoltaic electricity-generating power station includes 160 photovoltaic arrays (which cover an area of 4000 M2), with a total peak output of 350 kW DC, an I 100 kWhr lead-acid battery storage facility, a 300 kVA inverter, and a solar powered weather-data monitoring station. The station supplied 1 to 1.5 MWh of electric energy per day to three rural villages [6]. The system is capable of completely automatic operation and is designed for both stand-alone and co-generation modes of operation. The operation and maintenance of a photovoltaic field (350 kW) for electricity supply to the Solar Village is a continuous activity of Solar Programs (the Energy Research Institute) and has been operational since 198 1. The experience acquired through this project has been very significant in advancing the technology.

(b) Solar Controlled Environment Agricultural Project: The objective of this project is to integrate controlled agriculture with solar energy to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of such facilities in climate zones similar to those of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the South-West USA. To benefit researchers and other academics, SOLERAS has produced a set of nine volumes outlining the designs of the solar-assisted greenhouses in the full detail necessary for designers. A summary report has also been produced to give a brief outline of the respective design as a quick reference [9].

The objective of the Urban Applications was to improve the quality of life for the inhabitants in a hot, and environment by investigating the use of solar energy in the active cooling of buildings. Four university research (for the Saudi Universities Solar Cooling Laboratories) and four engineering field (for the Solar Active Cooling System) test projects were carried on for a total cost of US $15.5 million (7].

(a) Saudi Universities Solar Cooling Test Facilities Project: In an attempt to assist and enhance the research capabilities of national universities in solar energy technology, agreements were concluded with the following Saudi Arabian Universities: King Saud University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulaziz University and King Faisal University, to establish solar cooling laboratories for this purpose [101.

(b) Solar Active Cooling Systems: The objective of the engineering field test is to stimulate the development of advanced active solar-cooling systems for typical conditions of hot-arid and hot-humid environments. It is expected that these tests will be highly significant in the commercialization of solar cooling on a competitive basis with conventional systems. The SOLERAS programme funded four active solar cooling commercial application projects. All the projects were located in the USA (71.

The goal of this program was to use solar technologies in industrial applications that require thermal or electric energy. The major project was the development " demonstration of solar-powered sea-water desalination technologies.

1. Solar Cooling Technology King Fahd University of Petroleum 1980

and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi

Arabia

2. Solar Desalination Denver, Colorado, USA 1981

3. Solar Storage King Abdulaziz University 1982

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

4. Solar Thermal Lake wood, Colorado, USA 1983

Collectors

5. Solar Buildings King Saud University 1984

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

6. Solar Energy Applications New Mexico Solar Energy 1985

in Remote Areas Institute, New Mexico State

University, USA

The total cost was roughly US$35.3 million [6.7]. In this application area, a solar-powered sea-water desalination pilot plant was installed by SOLERAS in Yanbu in December 1984. The plant uses an indirect contact heat transfer freeze process to produce 200 cubic meters of potable water per day. The pilot plant also uses 18 point-focus collectors (80 m² each) with dual-axis tracking for solar energy collection. The operation, maintenance and performance results of the plant provided new concepts and dimensions to the different organizations involved (like Chicago Bridge and Iron Company). This plant, however, was later closed down for economic reasons [6].

Several activities supported resource development, which includes the collection and analysis of solar resource data, granting universities multi-year funding to conduct basic solar energy research, organizing and sponsoring major international technical solar workshops and annual short courses in solar-related fields, and disseminating the technical knowledge acquired during the program. The total expenditure in this area was US $5.1 million [7]. Under this scheme six international solar workshops were held in Saudi Arabia and the USA [I l- 16]. A list of titles and venues of those workshops is provided in Table 1.

As part of the collection and analysis of solar resource data, SANCST (the Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology), a former name of KACST, produced the first 'Saudi Arabian Solar Radiation Atlas'. This document is based on the data obtained from the archives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water for the period from 1971 to 1980, covering 17 stations which measured the duration of sunshine and 41 stations which measured global solar radiation, throughout the Kingdom [2].

2.1.2 Renewable energy research program

A second program of collaboration between the DOE and KACST, is currently addressing the other technologies of renewable energy, namely, wind, geothermal, bio-mass, etc., in addition to solar energy R&D. This program is carried out under the auspices of the Saudi Arabian United States Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JECOR) and in accordance with the provisions of the Technical Cooperation Agreement. The Decentralized Renewable Energy Systems for Remote/Rural Communities project has been initiated under this program. The activities included in this program are: Solar Energy for Remote Applications (Annex I), Assessment of Solar Radiation Resources in Saudi Arabia (Annex 11), and Assessment of Geothermal Resources in Saudi Arabia (Annex III).

In remote areas, water is very important for the life of the community, for watering stock and for irrigation. In Saudi Arabia, the major source of water is underground, and supplies are drawn to the surface using diesel engines. These engines need a continuous fuel supply for regular operations. Fuel supply to remote areas can be very costly. Solar energy can, therefore, be a competitive alternative source for water pumping and desalination.

The first PV powered water pumping and desalination plant was installed in 1994 at Sadus village, approximately 70 km from Riyadh. This plant has 6 PV arrays, 840 Wp each with adjustable tilt angle. They are used to charge 2 parallel battery banks with a total of 120 batteries. These batteries are used to power the Reverse Osmosis Unit (R.O.U.) and the ventilation fans and other small loads. The R.O.U. produces 600 litres/hour of potable water, from saline water (Total Dissolved Solids 7000 ppm). Another PV array, 1120 Wp (with adjustable tilt angle) is installed to power a 0.55 kW submersible water pump, kept at a depth of 50 meters from ground level. The potable water is stored in a tank, which is used by the inhabitants of the Village [ 17].

(ii) Assessment of Solar Radiation Resources in Saudi Arabia ( Annex II )

Reliable quantitative data on the daily and annual distribution pattern of solar energy at given locations are essential not only for assessing the economic feasibility of solar energy, but also for the thermal design and environmental control of buildings and greenhouses. It has been found that the existing Saudi Solar Radiation Atlas [2] does not cover all the areas of the Kingdom, as is also evident from Figures 1 and 2. It also does not contain reliable information required for solar energy applications, as it is based on the data collected by old and uncelebrated. instruments; and the magnitude of global solar radiation has changed due to global weather variations and the environmental impacts of the Gulf War. In view of the importance of exact measurement of the solar radiation, a Saudi Atlas Project has been initiated, and 12 locations have been selected in the following cities throughout the Kingdom: Riyadh, Gassim, Al-Ahsa, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Madinah, Jeddah, Qaisumah, Wadi Al Dawasir, Sharurah, Abha and Gizan. All these stations are connected to a central unit for data collection, and all the instruments are calibrated from time to time in order to provide reliable and accurate data. This is an additional activity which involves the continuous-operation and maintenance of a meteorological station at the Solar Village using data acquisition systems.

Under the umbrella of the Saudi-German Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation, this program is devoted to addressing several solar energy related issues through a joint international R&D program. It commenced in 1982 with the Solar Electric Stirling Engine Concentrator (Solar Thermal Dish Project), and it was then expanded to include sizable projects dedicated to the advancement of solar hydrogen technologies. The Solar Thermal Dish Project is a joint program between KACST and the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology, Bonn, BMFT (Germany). This Program is aimed at the production of 50 kW of electrical power from each thermal dish. It involves the development, construction, and testing of two 17 metre diameter large-scale membrane solar concentrators. It uses a large hollow reflector that tracks the sun. The units are coupled with Stirling engines to convert the solar thermal energy collected into mechanical energy to drive 50-60 kW peak electrical A/C generator. These are both dishes to be connected with the electric utility grid to evaluate cogeneration mode, and those used in a stand-alone mode to demonstrate the system's capability of providing electric power for remote sites. The Solar Thermal Dish Project, which has succeeded in generating 50 kW of electricity from a single concentrator dish is still considered the largest dish of its type in the world. The project's budget was approximately 8 million Deutsche marks [5.7].

The Saudi interest in solar hydrogen arose about ten years ago when it was envisaged that hydrogen might become the main source of energy in the next century. In 1986 both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Germany agreed to cooperate in a research, development and demonstration program called HYSOLAR (Hydrogen from SOLAR energy) [5, 71 with the following main objectives:

To attain sufficient scientific knowledge for the future commercial production and use of hydrogen in Saudi Arabia.

To facilitate the transfer of developed/acquired solar hydrogen related technologies to the scientific community and demonstrate the use of these technologies to the general public of Saudi Arabia.

The HYSOLAR program is funded jointly with a total budget of 60 million Deutsche marks. Its Phase IA and IB duration of five years ended in December 1991, Phase 11 ended in December 1995 [7].

The HYSOLAR program consisted of six tasks:

Demonstration of the reliability and safeness of solar hydrogen production through a continuous operation of 350 kW solar electrolytic hydrogen production demonstration plant that is constructed in the Solar Village, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Design and construction of a 10 kW solar hydrogen production facility. This consists of a 10 kW photovoltaic power generation subsystem and three new advanced electrolysers. The project construction was completed in Stuttgart, Germany.

Installation of a 2 kW photovoltaic-electrolytic research facility at the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The system was tested and demonstrated in November 1989.

Three Saudi universities (the Kind Saud University, the King Abdulaziz University and the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals), the University of Stuttgart and the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR) are involved in the fundamental research task. The major theme of this fundamental research program is photo electrochemistry and photo-catalysis.

Study the available techniques, equipment, and procedures for the utilization of hydrogen as a future fuel. Three subjects have been selected to be the main research topics: (a) Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), (b) Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC), (c) Catalytic Combustion Applications (CCA).

Building the professional community in the field of solar hydrogen technologies and training personnel for the monitoring, operation, maintenance, and repair of solar-powered hydrogen generation, storage, transportation, and utilization equipment.

A brief description of the accomplishment of some of the tasks of HYSOLAR Program follows :

350 kW Solar Hydrogen Demonstration System: The solar hydrogen plant situated at Solar Village, Riyadh, can be considered to be the world's first 350 kW solar powered hydrogen generation plant, where the solar photovoltaic system generates DC electricity that is used by advanced alkaline water electrolysers to produce 463 cubic meters of hydrogen at normal pressure per day. The system includes new and challenging aspects to the electrolyser design. These new features allow the electrolyser to operate under variable solar conditions with an intermittent mode of operation that is not yet investigated. The accomplishments of the project are yet to come [6].

Hydrogen Utilization Laboratory: The development of hydrogen utilization for domestic, agriculture and industrial applications, e.g. cooking, cooling, lighting and electrical energy generation is one of the aims of the HYSOLAR program. As a part of this task, a successful experiment was conducted in making modifications to an internal combustion engine so that it could use hydrogen as a fuel instead of petrol.

Fuel cells are a good example of hydrogen utilization and represent an exciting power generation technology for the next decades. They offer universally high efficiency

(75-80%), modularity, good environmental characteristics, siting feasibility and direct utilization of natural gas as- a fuel and air as an oxidant. At a moderate operating temperature (200'Q and utilizing commercially available fuels, phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFQ R&D work reached the commercialization stage in several countries such as the USA and Japan, where hundreds of PAFC Power plants ranging from 50 kW-200 kW and up to II MW are in use [18]. In view of the potential applications (for buses, trucks, remote power stations, etc.) of PAFC technology in Saudi Arabia, the R&D activities on PAFC were initiated at the Energy Research Institute, KACST, in 1991 under the framework of the HYSOLAR Program. Within the task of hydrogen utilization, the PAFC R&D work has progressed successfully in the past years with 'in-house' know-how for the development of half cells, mono cells, I 00 W and 250 W stacks [ 19). An experimental setup of a 250 W PAFC stack is shown in Figure 3. The R&D work on I kW PAFC stack is underway.

The Department of Solar Energy Programs at KACST was founded during the SOLERAS agreement. The department's function was initially to assist a series of solar energy activities, and it was then converted into the Energy Research Institute (ERI). Some of the R&D activities in the ERI are described below :

Project Title Photovoltaic Battery Size Location

Array Size (Ahr @ 120

(Peak Watts) hr rate)

Overheight Vehicle Direction and 1,560 1,954 Mujahidin-Jouranah

Diversion Interchange

Traffic Counter 160 108 Jeddah-Makkah

Expressway

Illuminated Steep Grade Warning 520 300 Uraija-Muzamizah

Sign Expressway

Sign Lighting at two interchanges 26,255 32,736 Dammam-Abu

Hadriah Expressway

Lighted Warning Signs at Pedestrian 130 200 Sabt Tanumah

Crossing

Illuminated 240 meter long 48,720 6,000 Shaar Descent

tunnel

Illuminated 546 meter long 57,600 4,916 Shaar Descent

tunnel

Modem highway safety standards require the deployment of lighting and warning devices which improve the motorist's ability to avoid potential road hazards. Convinced of the impracticability of using electric power from the national network to illuminate highways, the Ministry of Communication requested KACST to conduct experiments to determine the economic feasibility of using solar energy in highway illumination. To conduct this exercise, KACST has utilized photovoltaic (PV) systems to power highway devices in various remote locations within the Kingdom (see Table 2) [20, 21]. These generate approximately 1.5 MWh of solar electric energy per day. The total budget was US$4.5 million. The calculated cost of I kWh of electric energy generated is around US$0.1 [5,6]. These projects allow Saudi Arabia the unique opportunity of demonstrating that modem highway safety standards can be achieved in remote regions where no grid power exists.

A 3 kW photovoltaic power system has been established at the Solar Village in order to evaluate the resulting effects of changing direction, rotation, dust and temperature on photovoltaic measurements as well as to test the efficiency and output of a photovoltaic system. The performance evaluation of various photovoltaic flatplate and concentrator module technologies is conducted as a continuous activity (221. A separate project on PV school lighting in rural areas has recently been initiated. In this project, PV lighting systems are used in 20 schools (of the Ministry of Education) scattered in the rural areas of the Kingdom [6].

A Solar Energy Laboratory has been established at Solar Village with the equipment (such as a sun simulator, environmental chamber, spectrosun large area pulsed solar simulator) required for its experimental work on solar thermal collectors and for the electrical evaluation of photovoltaic cell arrays under controlled conditions.

Recently, it has been observed that electricity consumption has drastically increased in Saudi Arabia, which creates a mismatching situation in demand and supply. One way to reduce electricity consumption in water heating sectors is to introduce solar water heating systems (SWHS) for different hot water applications (domestic and industrial use, etc.). A study on the development of SWHS is under way at the Energy Research Institute (ERI); through which a number of suitable SWHS (for different climatic areas) will be designed, fabricated using locally available material and field tested for all seasons. Later, know-how about these experimentally and seasonally tested SWHS will be handed over to the interested industries for mass production and commercialization. Under this scheme, a constant technical backup to the local manufacturer will be provided to continuously upgrade and improve SWHS [23]. It is reported, that a thermosyphon domestic SWHS based on locally fabricated, 3.6 m² solar collectors will provide sufficient hot water for a family of five people in Saudi Arabia and it would cost SR 4,500 (One Saudi Riyal (SR) = 0.27 U.S.$). This shows that the final cost of locally fabricated and environmentally tested SWHS will be about 60% cheaper than the imported SWHS [231. Obviously, this cost of SWHS will be drastically reduced during mass production of the SWHS.

Drying immature dates is a problem for many countries where the relative humidity is high during the drying season. Drying dates using solar energy is important in reducing the maturation time as well as minimizing the loss of dates. The Energy Research Institute, KACST, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water, has conducted studies to develop the most efficient system for drying dates using solar energy. In this connection, a number of solar dryers have been designed, installed and experimentally tested at Al-Hassa and Qatif Agricultural experimental sites.

A separate study has been initiated for wind energy assessment in Saudi Arabia. Five locations, namely, Abha, Arar, Dhahran, Solar Village and Yanbu, have been selected for this purpose. The installation of monitoring equipment at those sites is in hand.

Recently, work has been started under the Energy Databases and Networking Project. One aim. of this project is to provide scientific consultation related to solar and other renewable energy techniques technologies.

Since meetings on 'New Energy Sources' at Phoenix in 1955 and at Rome in 1961, it is interesting to note the gradual but accelerating move from academic research publications on solar topics to increasing emphasis on solar applications, the development of solar power equipment, and, more recently, topics dealing directly with the commercialization of solar technology [24]. It has been established that the industrialized countries are still leading in the field of solar energy technologies. Although most of the developing countries are located in regions ' where solar energy is abundant, their concern for the application of solar energy is limited, and they pay very little attention to solar energy education, which is the basis for the development of this field. It is a fact that the lack of public awareness about solar energy is one of the significant obstacles that limits the utilization of this important, freely available and inexhaustible energy source. Newspapers, television and radio, exhibitions and Energy Centers are various means which could be used to educate large numbers of people in the shortest possible time. As an example, the first specialized exhibition on environmental awareness the 'Saudi Environmental Awareness Project (SEAPEX 95)' was held recently in Riyadh. Simultaneously two Saudi German seminars on Environmental Research and Analysis, and Environmental Techniques and Products were conducted in the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of the project. Recently, it has been reported that solar energy education programs should include the following points for the effective commercialization and utilization of the technology [25]:

incorporation of solar concepts in the existing curriculum at all levels; from school to university.

training programmes for professionals, the organization of short courses, workshops and seminars dealing with different topics of solar energy

a proper campaign to convince decision makers and industry leaders of the value of solar energy technologies.

the publication of literature on solar energy technologies in non-technical language for distribution to the general public.

To promote solar energy to the general public KACST has participated in a number of energy related exhibitions, and utilized all possible means to exhibit the importance of solar energy technologies. Because of the importance of solar energy education, a survey was recently conducted by the KACST on the availability of solar energy education programs at different education levels around the world [24]. The questionnaire used for the survey was targeted at 19 local and 168 foreign organizations/institutes based in 60 different countries. Only 26.3% responded: 16.1% from industrialized and 10.2% from developing countries. Replies were received from 25 countries in all (II of them are developing countries). The survey report [26, 27] concludes that organizations based in industrialized countries put their efforts into running training courses/seminars and some of them are involved in designing teaching resource materials, especially for school children, while organizations in developing countries are arranging seminars/conferences/training courses only for technical personnel and not targeting the young generation and non-technical people. Only three universities in industrialized countries are awarding master's degrees in solar energy, while very few topics on solar energy (as elective courses) are available in institutes for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in developing countries. A number of degree courses (like M.Sc.) schemes and major topics in the area of solar energy were therefore proposed for inclusion in existing university curricula. In addition, basic topics relevant to solar energy were also proposed for school and college students [241. It has been observed that a course on renewable energy (including solar energy) is available in the Department of Electrical Technology of the five main colleges of technology scattered around Saudi Arabia, The faculties of Engineering at the King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), the King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and the King Saud University (KSU) of Saudi Arabia are conducting courses on solar energy conversion at graduate level, while running other advanced courses of different length on solar energy utilization at postgraduate level (241. These institutions also arrange conferences, seminars and training courses on solar energy from time to time.

Besides research, development and demonstration activities, the KACST Energy Research Institute also provides research facilities to these universities' students for conducting their B.Sc projects [28 - 30] for a thesis which is mandatory for the qualification of B.Sc in engineering.

Energy building research has produced several studies on the basic factors which affect energy management in buildings and on energy conservation principles using the behavior of a solar house, e.g. cooling, heating, ventilation, and lighting. Research, development " demonstration work on photovoltaics, solar cookers and solar stills has also been carried out at KACST. Some of the projects sponsored by KACST are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. Figure 4 shows installation of different solar energy devices at the Solar village.

Projects Capacity Location Construction Application Comments

& Operation

Projects Location Construction Application Comments

& Operation

Institutions Research Studies

King Fahad University for Heliohydroelectric Power Generation, Possibilities of

Petroleum & Minerals extraction of Magnesium Chloride from sea.

(KFUPM), Dhahran Estimation of Solar Insolation Isolines in Saudi Arabia,

Solar Energy Storage, Fuel Celles, Photovoltaics, Solar

Housing, Water Heating, Solar Collectors, Solar

Cooling, Hydrogen Production

King Saud University Solar Water Distillation, Water Heating, Space Heating,

(KSU), Riyadh Crop Drying, Space Cooling, Solar Collectors, Solar

Housing, Hydrogen Production

King Abdulaziz University Solar Pump, Solar Collectors, Desalination, Solar

(KAU), Jeddah Cookers, Solar Drying, Participated in R&D work as a

part of HYSOLAR Program

King Faisal University Passive Solar Cooling

(KFU), Al- Hassa

S. No. Projects Sponsors Applications Estimated Comments

Capacity

The solar pond technique for collecting and storing solar energy is very promising in Saudi Arabia due to the availability of saline water and natural deposits of salts in the Kingdom. It has been anticipated that solar ponds could provide 5% of Saudi Arabia's energy needs by the end of the century. A new R&D project to utilize this technique is therefore under consideration in Saudi Arabia. Through this project, the know-how of experimentally tested solar pond design and construction parameters will be disseminated to other agencies for further implementation in the Kingdom.

A number of Saudi universities, as shown in Table 5, are engaged in R&D activities in the field of solar energy applications [31-351. Other governmental and nongovernmental organizations are also sponsoring solar energy projects throughout the Kingdom. A list of some of those projects with overall total estimated capacity is given in Table 6.

The projects on solar water heating system am sponsored by a number of governmental agencies/institutes. They are installed in several housing compounds around the Kingdom. The average solar heating energy produced per square meter of collection area is about 30 kWh per day. The calculated cost of one kWh of useful heating energy from solar is around SRO. 13 [5, 6].

The largest application of solar energy in Saudi Arabia is the solar powered heating complex of the King Abdulaziz Airborne Training School in Tabuk. To heat 14 of the 22 buildings of the 50 hectare school, solar collectors (covering total surface area of 4370 M2) Were used. The solar heat collected is used to supply 40% of the building heat and 100% of the domestic water needs 36,000 gallons a day, enough to serve 400 houses [361.

The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu installed a number of thermosyphon type solar domestic hot water units, at MYAS Medical Center staff housing campus in Yanbu, comprising 132 solar flat-plate collectors of 490 M² total surface area.

KACST has introduced individual units of the forced closed type water heating system for domestic water heating purposes. More than eleven hundred solar flatplate collectors have been installed on the rooftop of 373 residences of different categories (like Villas, Terraced Houses, Apartments) in KACST's campus at Riyadh. Each family residence is equipped with three solar flatplate collectors (6.36 M² total surface area) and a hot water storage tank of 65 gallons capacity. The total solar flatplate collector effective surface area in the KACST campus is 2249 M², which generates about 67 MWh of useful heating energy per day. Figure 5 shows the flatplate collectors installed in a KACST housing campus.

This project can be considered to be the second largest application of solar water heating system in the Kingdom.

In Saudi Arabia, two industries, Al-Jazirah Solar Systems and Electronic Factory, and BP Solar Arabia Ltd., are importing ready-made solar cells and then assembling photovoltaic modules for generation of electricity. These modules are used in Saudi Arabia for lighting, home appliances, drinking/irrigation water pumping, cathodic protection for (oil, gas, water) pipelines, telecommunications, warning lights, etc. Siemens is also planning to utilize its worldwide experience in the dissemination of PV technology and interested to establish a PV-factory in Saudi Arabia in order to enhance the commercialization process in the field of PV technology. Al-Afandi Establishment, Jeddah, has started work in the field of solar thermal technologies, as well as the manufacturing of PV modules, but their products need some time for development before commercialization.

As discussed earlier, in spite of the technical viability and the great potential of various solar energy technologies, their use remains either restricted or limited. The main constraints on the use of solar energy are its higher cost and lower conversion efficiency. One of the most important factors in reducing cost and increasing conversion efficiency is the performance of various basic materials, used in solar devices. Therefore, not only must extensive research be carried out into various solar energy devices, but also into various basic materials, for example, coating materials, transparent materials, polycrystalline silicon and non-crystalline silicon materials. Detailed research studies must be conducted in the cultural, social and economic fields of acceptance conditions of solar energy technologies among different population groups [37].

The following barriers are being experienced in energy economics, and these may explain why solar energy technologies have failed to make a more significant energy contribution to date:

(a) economic competitiveness,

(b) lack of consumer awareness,

(c) lack of information and proof with regard to performance, durability, reliability and cost effectiveness of solar energy technologies under actual climatic conditions,

(d) unstable market and therefore, paucity of entrepreneurs.

Once these barriers are overcome, there will be a promising future for solar energy technologies.

Long-term research currently underway in Saudi Arabia could prove of the greatest benefit not only to the Kingdom but to its neighbours, and to the whole world. Solar energy research in Saudi Arabia, was identified as being of vital importance in the 1970s. Two major international joint ventures were executed by KACST: one, with the United States of America (SOLERAS); and the other, with the Federal Republic o ' f Germany (HYSOLAR). These projects proved to be useful in utilizing solar energy in the Kingdom, in order to meet future energy needs without contributing in environmental damages.

The Kingdom's Solar Village project features a wide range of equipment for tapping solar energy: photovoltaic panels, flat-plate collectors, solar thermal dishes, etc. On site laboratories and computer systems collect and analyze data for further solar energy research and its application in all fields.

Research, development and demonstration activities in the Kingdom have confirmed that solar energy has a multitude of practical uses. These include lighting, cooling, cooking, water heating, crop/fruit drying, water desalination, operating irrigation pumps, operating meteorological stations, and providing road and tunnel lighting, traffic lights, road instruction signals etc.

Unfortunately, the commercialization process of solar energy technologies in Saudi Arabia is very slow for various reasons, and the major obstacles are the higher cost of the systems (as compared to subsidized utility power) and lack of awareness of the potential of solar energy amongst the general public. Therefore, the effective process of dissemination and commercialization of solar energy technologies in the Kingdom, following steps could be adopted: Interaction between ERI and the local industry for mass production of experimentally and seasonally tested solar energy technologies; a major expansion of R&D efforts, field testing and demonstration of solar energy project; solar energy education and training programs and the creation of local credit and other facilities enable the general public to get access to owning and operating solar energy technologies.

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