Saudi Arabia launched the Geographic Survey Project for Renewable Energy sites, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Kingdom awarded contracts to Saudi companies to install 1,200 stations for measuring solar and wind energy across all regions of the country.
Unparalleled geographical coverage of the project
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince AbdulAziz bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud stated that this project is part of the National Renewable Energy Program and is globally unprecedented in terms of its geographical coverage. Moreover, the project will survey over 850,000 square kilometres, excluding populated areas, sand dunes, and airspace restrictions. This area is equivalent to the combined land area of the U.K. and France, or Germany and Spain.
Comprehensive measurement of solar and wind energy resources
Furthermore, the minister explained that the solar energy measurement stations will be equipped with advanced devices to record various parameters, including Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI), dust and pollutant deposition rates, ground-reflected radiation (albedo), ambient temperature, rainfall levels, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.
The wind energy measurement stations, installed at heights up to 120 meters, will record wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity.
Contribution to renewable energy goals and liquid fuel displacement
Additionally, the project is intended to contribute to achieving the optimal energy mix targets for electricity production, with renewable energy sources comprising about 50 percent of the energy mix by 2030. It will also support the goals of the Liquid Fuel Displacement Program by reducing the dependence on liquid fuel in electricity generation.
Ambitious renewable energy targets for the Kingdom
The minister further added that starting this year, the Kingdom will tender new renewable energy projects with a capacity of 20 gigawatts annually, aiming to reach between 100 and 130 gigawatts by 2030, depending on the growth in electricity demand.
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