Even though we have an impressive natural potential for solar and wind power, and our local energy
consumption will increase three fold by 2030, we still lack a competitive renewable energy sector at present.
To build up the sector, we have set ourselves an initial target of generating 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy.
We will also seek to localize a significant portion of the renewable energy value chain in the Saudi economy,
including research and development, and manufacturing, among other stages.
From inputs such as silica and petrochemicals, to the extensive expertise of our leading Saudi companies in
the production of different forms of energy, we have all the raw ingredients for success. We will put this into
practice with the forthcoming launch of the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative. We will review the legal
and regulatory framework that allows the private sector to buy and invest in the renewable energy sector. To
localize the industry and produce the necessary skill-sets, we will also encourage public-private partnerships.
Finally, we will guarantee the competitiveness of renewable energy through the gradual liberalization of the
fuels market.
Other
4%
Industrial
20%
Kingdom-wide distribution
of consumption by
consumption type
Commercial
15%
Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company While the solar project only affects
(SADAFCO) for instance has started to SADAFCOs Riyadh Regional Distribution
utilize a solar PV-diesel hybrid system that Centre, it will provide the company with
can deliver 40% of the facilitys daytime a framework and key insights on the
energy requirements. The project was possibilities of a wider implementation
completed in December 2016 and is across some of its other locations, said
expected to result in cost savings from the Wout Matthijs, CEO of SADAFCO. The
reduced diesel consumption. Jeddah-based group operates sales and
distribution depots in 24 locations across
the kingdom as well as Qatar, Bahrain,
Jordan and Kuwait.
Meanwhile, the commercial sector could In its home market, FAS Energy is now
similarly achieve considerable savings gearing up for new activity and has
through solar installations and energy established an energy audit division which
efficiency measures. Commercial users already received hundreds of requests
should adopt solar regardless of their from the private and public sectors. Were
business activity, because theyre paying moving forward with this division, because
the highest tariff for electricity. We heard you cannot install a solar system as a
that the tariffs might increase again to 56 business or decide on the capacity you
halala, which is 14-15 US cents/kWh. If this need without having full details of your
happens, solar will be the only way, said consumption and expenses.
Eng. Sabri Asfour, chief executive of Riyadh-
based FAS Energy (pictured left). While there are plenty of opportunities for
industrial and commercial applications, the
We already took the decision to install larger share of solar tenders is anticipated
rooftop solar systems on all our shopping to come from the government in the form of
malls in Saudi Arabia and their car parks. Build-Operate-Transfer IPP projects.
We have around 18 malls, said Asfour,
adding that the solar systems will have a We expect utility-scale projects to come
total installed capacity of about 100 MW. from the newly established Ministry of
We have around 1,500 engineers who have Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources
experience in everything from design to as well as leading stakeholders such as
construction to site management. SEC, Aramco, and K.A.CARE. Each of these
entities have their own tasks which have
FAS Energy is the renewable energy been assigned to them by the ministry. They
development arm of Saudi retail are working as one team, they have a vision
conglomerate Fawaz Al Hokair Group. and schedule, and theyre following it. I
The company intended to participate in believe bigtime in whats going on in Saudi
K.A.CAREs 2013 programme but then Arabia, said Asfour.
shifted its focus to other markets, including
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and
Pakistan.
SASIA: Which financing models do you think SASIA: What advice would you give to
will be used to fund solar projects in Saudi developers participating in the upcoming solar
Arabia? tenders?
Tariq Alghaziri: Currently, the financing model Tariq Alghaziri: Risks and mitigants are part of
follows recourse financing due to the limited the required due diligence for any transaction.
numbers of renewable projects. However, the In order to attract financing, a well-structured
kingdom is well established in terms of project transaction with outstanding sponsors in addition
financing and non-recourse financing. In the future, to an acceptable technology and contractual
it is expected that PPP and non-recourse financing arrangement are expected. Project financing is
will be the dominant financing model for solar a well-established market in Saudi Arabia and
projects. This is of course subject to development follows international standards. Banks will apply
and maturity of the solar industry in the kingdom. international guidelines to maintain the required
credit risk and establish a well-organized market
SASIA: Do you expect to see greater precedent.
involvement from local or international banks? As a result, risk transfer and distribution of risks
Tariq Alghaziri: Local banks will support project should be defined and satisfactory to all project
financing as it has been experienced in the past participants which include developer, financiers,
several years. Nevertheless, and due to the offtakers, contractor, sponsors, regulator, and O&M
limited experience of local banks, such banks provider. It would be also advisable to approach
will prefer to have the participation of reputable financers to find out their views, concerns or
international banks that have strong experience comments as part of the developers assessment.
in solar project financing. The financing might
start with international banks leading the market
but eventually local banks will have a bigger
involvement. The legal environment, proper due
diligence, and acceptable contracts including PPA
are mandatory to attract the both type of banks.
SECs
transmission Expansion of transmission network
network
covers nearly Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) SEC has expanded the electricity SEC is also coordinating efforts
99% of the has been continuously expanding transmission network by as within the Gulf Cooperation
kingdom
the transmission network to keep much as 136% between 2000 Council to link the power grids
pace with the increasing power and 2016, increasing the of its member states to meet
demand. According to Hamed number of substations by 88% peak loads in summer (Export.
Alsaggaf, executive director of and transformers by 191%. The gov, 2016). At the same time, the
independent power projects and transmission network currently company is looking at exporting
renewable energy at SEC, peak covers nearly 99% of the excess capacity in off-peak
load demand in the kingdom is kingdom, according to Eng. Laith months to other Gulf countries, as
growing at 7 to 9% per year, and Al-Bassam, CEO of National Grid well as Egypt through a 3 GW link
in 2016 soared by 10.2% to 62.5 SA, a subsidiary of SEC. and eventually Europe.
GW.
Nevertheless, SECs Five-Year
In the last 15 years, we have Plan (2016-2020) will see the
trebled our demand and in the company add another 34,000
next 15 it could double again, to circular kilometres of transmission
122 GW, Alsaggaf said during lines and 370 transformation
the WFES in January 2017. If stations.
we continue to use fossil fuels to
reach this demand, our export of
oil will be at risk since the rate of
oil consumption in Saudi Arabia
is 4% greater than our rate of oil
produce increase.
23,582
23,938
26,272
27,847
29,913
31,240
34,953
38,000
41,200
45,661
48,367
51,939
53,864
56,547
62.260
21,673
Source: SEC 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
In 2016, SASO adopted the IEC 61215 Crystalline Silicone Since then, KACST experts have conducted numerous R&D
Terrestrial PV Modules-Design Qualification and Type projects and identified high temperature, high ultraviolet
Approval and the IEC 61646 Thin-Film Terrestrial PV irradiation and dust accumulation on PV modules surface
Modules-Design Qualification and Type Approval. These as the top three challenges to solar system efficiency in the
standards include the examination of all parameters which kingdom.
are responsible for the ageing of PV modules and describe
KACST has studied these issues and found effective
the qualification tests based on the artificial load of the
solutions to minimize the impacts of these problems and
materials (TV InterCert, 2012).
improve PV system efficiency, Eng. Saad Alqahtani, PV
SASO officials have also signed technical cooperation modules production plant manager at KACST said. For
agreements with Saudi Aramco and SEC in 2016 to instance, we are working on a new type of solar glass
collaborate on energy efficiency and consumption with dust-repellent properties by using a nano-coating
rationalization programs, and to exchange experiences technology, and so far, it has shown encouraging results.
in the development and management of engineering
standards.
Source: KAUST
Source: KAUST
SASIA: Which applications SASIA: In your opinion, how SASIA: Which components
do you foresee solar energy could CSP fit in with the PV could initially be produced
being used for in Saudi Arabia expansion? within the kingdom?
over the coming years? Iain McCulloch: CSP cannot Iain McCulloch: It is easier
Iain McCulloch: It is compete with PV, in terms of for us to contemplate which
conceivable that a desirable cost. Moreover, thanks to the technologies can initially be
application of solar energy already mentioned steady rate invented for application within
will be feed-in tariffs (FIT). of cost reduction of PV, it seems the kingdom. The development
Countries such as Germany very unlikely it will ever catch of technologies will be
attribute massive solar success up with PV. This situation is also focused on the stability and
to well-designed FIT systems. reflected in the market, where sustainability of solar cells in
If, as is the case in Germany, CSP represents less than 2% of desert environment.
support for a transition away the globally installed capacity of
Some techniques are proven
from conventional and towards solar electricity plants.
to be stable and sustainable
renewable energy is strong,
Despite this unfavourable in a desert environment:
the use of well-designed FITs
situation, it may be meaningful silicon heterojunction
is likely to be competitive to
to have a certain capacity of technology provides high-
alternative regulatory support
CSP, as it may help overcome temperature tolerance, with
mechanisms, especially during
the intermittency associated very high performance, and
the early phases of renewable
with PV (molten salts can store facilitates drastically bifacial
technology development.
their energy overnight). module design; self-cleaning
On the premise of FIT, the thermoplastic coatings
importance of technologies decrease cleaning cost.
related to grid system will Customer-based technologies
become significant. To design give local producers potentially
a good FIT system, more disruptive properties. By
scientists and engineers will focusing on these niche
work on macro or microgrid technologies, the kingdom can
technologies. Given the extend technological strength
experience of solar in well- to less harsh conditions, and
developed countries, the eventually catch up with global
importance of FIT and grid solar companies.
technologies will show their
significance in the following few
years.
The 160 MW
Noor I CSP
project in
Ouarazate,
Morocco
More recently, Khalid Al Falih confirmed at something similar for the Middle PV components, mainly for the first
that the renewables sector was going East and become a leader in this stage of the value chain. While a
to be based on a localisation pathway field, which would also generate jobs, few companies plan to cater to the
and that the ministry of energy would suggested Paret. second stage in the future, there are
require all bidders to invest in the concerns over Chinas cheap prices.
Iain McCulloch, professor of Chemical
supply chain of goods and services to Eng. Sabri Asfour, chief executive of
Science and director of KAUST Solar
the kingdom. Fas Energy notes that the levelized
Center, believes that servitization will
cost of electricity is the main factor in
The localization of the industry be the key for local PV manufacturers
competitiveness and this cost largely
will have to be encouraged by the to succeed. As customers expect
depends on the technology as PV
government by providing incentives additional benefits and long lasting
components account for 36% to 50%
and partnering up with global relationships, more manufacturers add
of project costs.
manufacturers, said Thierry Paret, service contracts to their product sales.
FAIA, director at large at the American Based on our studies, it is not
In this case, although foreign
Institute of Architects (AIA), founding attractive to build PV factories in Saudi
manufacturers start earlier, local
president of AIA Middle East, and Arabia right now because competition
manufacturers have distinct
lead architect for the engineering and with China will be intense. If the [Saudi]
advantages of understanding the Saudi
project management group at KAUST. government can reach an agreement
market. By utilizing servitization, local
such as the one concluded between
Siemens is setting up a wind turbine PV manufacturers can create value for
China and Europe on PV imports, or
rotor blade factory in Tangier and customers, which help to lock in long-
if they impose a 20% local content
I believe the long-term plan is for term relationships, said McCulloch.
requirement, that could spur local
Morocco to become a supplier for
At present, the kingdom has a manufacturing activity.
North Africa. Saudi Arabia could look
limited manufacturing capacity for
ACWA Power
ACWA Power is a remarkable example of how Saudi capabilities can
set benchmarks for the global solar industry. With a renewable energy
portfolio exceeding 1 GW comprising 10 projects across four countries, the
company has been a pioneer in pushing the limits of competition in wind,
PV and CSP.
One of ACWA Powers most aggressive bids was for the 200 MW PV project
in Dubai, which it secured at a tariff of 5.84 US cents/kWh a record at the
time. In January 2017, the company bid 5.91 US cents/kWh for Risha the
lowest tariff ever presented for a PV project in Jordan and subsequently
won the tender.
AEC-KACO
A four-year long collaboration between Saudi Arabias Advanced
Electronics Company (AEC) and Germanys KACO New Energy resulted
in the launch of the countrys first PV inverter line in September 2015. The
facility has a production capacity of 2,000 units or 1 GW per year and can
produce inverters ranging from 20 kW to 2 MW in capacity. While AEC will
own the Shams PV inverter line, KACO will provide O&M services for local
customers. The companies also concluded localisation and technology
transfer agreements.
Al-Afandi Group
Through its subsidiary Afandi Solar, Saudi conglomerate Afandi Group
plans to open a solar panel factory in Yanbu by 2017 and has signed a
property contract with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY).
Covering 55,000 square-metres, the factory will feature an integrated
production line utilising American, French and Swiss technologies to build
solar panels from scratch.
The facility is set to become the largest in the Middle East, with an initial
production capacity of 120 MW per year, or the equivalent of 450,000
panels, before being expanded to 1 GW. RCJY itself is working with
K.A.CARE to assess the feasibility of a 50 MW PV power plant at Yanbu
Industrial City.
Green Gulf
Al-Khobar-based Green Gulf is currently in the process of constructing
a solar PV manufacturing facility in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, western
Saudi Arabia. The company began its activity after the announcement
of K.A.CAREs previous programme and specifically, the local content
stipulations.
Were going to manufacture solar wafers and modules; were aiming for
750 MW of wafer and 200 MW of module capacity, said Amr Khamis,
chief technical officer at Green Gulf. Although the company slowed down
construction lately due to the lack of project activity, it will speed up again
once the market starts picking up.
Creating a module line is not difficult but solar wafers take time and require
a big investment. Today, with five or six million euros you can start a module
line, but for wafers you need around 50 million euros. Investors want to see
a mature market before they put in large amounts of money.
Our local PV industry market should not compete with Chinese products.
It is necessary to protect the local PV industry and ensure it is not affected
should instability occur in the international supply chain, Alqahtani
suggested.
SEC has taken a more active role in solar energy development in recent
years. In 2016, it invited expressions of interest for two 50 MW solar IPP
projects to be located in Al-Jouf and Rafha north of the kingdom. In
addition, it is collaborating with KACST and Taqnia Energy to build the 50
MW Layla PV plant in the city of Aflaj.
Taqnia Energy
A subsidiary of the Saudi Technology Development and Investment
Company, which is owned by the Public Investment Fund, Taqnia Energy
was founded in 2014 to develop and invest in bankable, technology-
focused energy business opportunities. The company evaluates potential
investments through various criteria.
Its very important that they are feasible and can contribute to the
kingdoms economy, said Wail Bamhair, senior business development
manager at Taqnia Energy (pictured left). The intangible investment is a
way to build local expertise, transfer know-how and potentially create new
jobs.
Through the Layla project, the first IPP solar PV project in Saudi Arabia,
Taqnia Energy is going to provide a clean source of energy to Al-Aflaj
area, which will help build a sustainable future for the kingdom using local
competencies, Bamhair said.
Its not just about manufacturing and investing, its also about looking at the
countrys capabilities and facilities and maximizing their use, he said.
And while the market has only just started to ramp up, we
already have two pilot commercial and industrial projects
in place: the first is a PV plant that powers groundwater
extraction and distribution operations at an organic farm
owned by the Al Watania Agriculture Company. In the
second pilot, we worked with Saudi-based National Solar
Systems Company to deploy a carport solar power plant
for the Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO) in
Riyadh.
SASIA: Which applications do you foresee solar energy SASIA: Saudi Arabias high dust levels are still cited as
being used for in KSA? a major challenge to solar PV systems. How does First
Raed Bkayrat: The LCOE from solar PV is getting to levels Solar deal with this?
where it is being competitive with subsidized oil and gas Raed Bkayrat: Given the availability of high-performance
power generation. This is opening a slew of applications technologies with better spectral response, the argument
that span from supporting district cooling to sea water about dust is a dated one. Of course, if developers opt to
desalination to hybrid power plants and supporting oil and build projects with conventional crystalline silicon modules
gas operations. This is the tip of the ice berg as we see it in they will need to deal with challenges associated with that
Saudi and the solar market will continue to expand to levels technology operating in typical, high dust, high humidity
that will even exceed anyone expectations simply driven conditions that we see in Saudi Arabia and around the Gulf
by economics and maturity in storage technology that will region.
eventually lead to solar PV plants being treated on bar as a
First Solar has over 70MW installed across the region,
conventional power plant except for the massive reduction
with a further 200MW due to be installed this year. All
in carbon footprint, which we urgently need
our data points to the fact that our technology performs
above expectations in the region and that our dry-cleaning
regimen is sufficient to ensure optimal plant performance.
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www.ecra.gov.sa/en-us/MediaCenter/DocLib2/Lists/SubCategory_Library/ECRA%20Annual%20Report%202014%20En.pdf
Khaleej Times. (2016). ME industry giants told go green to counter rising energy costs.
www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/me-industry-giants-told-go-green-to-counter-rising-energy-costs
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2016). The Power to Change: Solar and Wind Cost Reduction Potential to 2025.
www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/IRENA_Power_to_Change_2016.pdf
Poyry. (2016). A country in transformation: three areas to reform the electricity sector of Saudi Arabia.
www.poyry.com/sites/default/files/media/related_material/pov0030_ksa_web.pdf
Reuters. (2016). Saudis cut huge budget deficit, to loosen purse strings in 2017.
www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-economy-budget-idUSKBN14B1GL