Energy Engineering Report: Solar Energy Potential in Saudi Arabia

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of solar energy implementation in Saudi Arabia, evaluating the country's potential for renewable energy adoption. It begins with an introduction to solar energy, emphasizing its advantages over fossil fuels, and then explores successful solar energy implementations in countries such as Germany, China, and Japan, highlighting key strategies and outcomes. The report then focuses on Saudi Arabia, discussing the selection of appropriate solar energy processes, specifically the photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, and their suitability for the country's climate and energy needs. It examines the installation process, economic benefits, and environmental considerations associated with solar energy projects. Furthermore, the report assesses the efficiency of solar systems, presenting both pros and cons, and addresses the role of oil interests in the transition to solar energy in Saudi Arabia. The report concludes with a summary of findings and recommendations for future solar energy development in Saudi Arabia.

Running head: ENERGY ENGINEERING
Energy Engineering
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................2
2. Experiences of Successful countries................................................................................4
3. Selecting an appropriate process-500..............................................................................6
3.1. The Photovoltaic Process..........................................................................................6
3.2. The CSP Process.......................................................................................................7
3.3. The Chosen process for Saudi Arabia......................................................................9
4. Installing process...........................................................................................................10
5. Economic area...............................................................................................................11
6. Environmental issues.....................................................................................................13
7. Efficiency of solar system.............................................................................................14
7.1. Pros.........................................................................................................................15
7.2. Cons........................................................................................................................15
8. Saudi Arabia has a lot of sun - and there are the oil interests - do they want that?.......16
9. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................17
10. References....................................................................................................................18

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1. Introduction
The solar energy is a radiant energy that is obtained from the vibrating particles that
radiates from the Sun. The nuclear fusion reactions occurring in the Sun emits a lot of heat
energy. Therefore, Sun is a rich source of energy, which can be utilized to solve various power
problems in earth. Solar energy comes under renewable energy resource unlike the carbon
producing fuel resources and therefore it can provide continuous energy supply without being
depleted. Studies proves that if all the sunlight that reaches the earth surface is captured for an
hour, the energy collected is enough for supplying the world with energy for an entire year. This
is because, a simple three foot by three foot patch located on a sunny area of the earth’s surface
receives on an average, 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy in a year (Fahrenbruch & Bube,
2012). Another primary advantage of making use of solar energy is that, it does not produce
green house gases that harm the atmosphere. The increasing use of fossil fuel is a major reason
for global climate change. Use of fossil fuels emits carbon dioxide and other green house gasses
that trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature of the earth. Therefore,
the use of solar energy may not only benefit a large-scale organization by saving a huge amount
of monetary investment in fossil fuel, but also reduce pollution of the environment. This implies
that solar energy has the ability to reduce the environmental impact and contribute to the energy
independence (Pelizzetti & Schiavello, 2012).
Solar energy is widely used nowadays to generate heat and produce energy. According to
the reports of International Energy Agency or IEA, by the end of 2050, solar energy would be
used for supplying around 45% of the energy all over the world. Moreover, the use of solar
energy is getting remarkable popularity in the industrial applications over the world. It is mostly
used in food, non-metallic, textile, chemical, building and business related industries.

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Furthermore, the use of solar energy is prominent in telecommunication, water desalination, and
agricultural purposes in operating pumps, engines, fans, and refrigerator and so on. Use of solar
energy may further help in increasing the energy stability and energy sustainability, thus
enhancing the efficiency of the system. This report aims at studying the use of solar energy in
different sectors of Saudi Arabia. The experiences of the successful solar energy implementation
are discussed in this report (Redweik, Catita & Brito, 2013). The study evaluates the economic
advantages that Saudi Arabia might gain in implementing this project. The efficiency of the solar
system is further evaluated in this report. The possibility of implementation of solar energy be
successful in Saudi Arabia is high as it has an advantage of its climate. Saudi Arabia can embark
on the project of using solar energy for industrial purposes as he average energy Saudi Arabia
receives from the sunlight is almost 2200 kWh/m2. Therefore, possibility of generating clean energy
in the country via a direct sunlight, trapped through PV cells is very high. Researches prove that, the
application and use of solar energy power is growing since 1960.
Furthermore, in order to meet the rising electricity demand of Saudi Arabia, the need for
expanding power generation also increases. Conventional energy uses is a major cause of environmental
pollution and have a negative impact on human health. Therefore, it is intellectual to have an alternative
method of power generation that would provide a support to the existing conventional generational during
the peak hours. One of the major advantages of Saudi Arabia in embarking on solar energy projects is
that, the country is geographically suitable (Kalogirou, 2013). This is because it is located in the Sun Belt.
If successfully implemented, solar energy can act as a serious competitor for the conventional power
generation. Thus processing of Sunlight through photovoltaic cell is an important method of generation of
clean energy. The increasing growth of population in Saudi Arabia results in the rising electricity demand.
With the implementation of solar power energy, the total power demand from the conventional power
sources in Saudi Arabia may be reduced to a considerable extent during peak periods (Connolly, 2012).

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2. Experiences of Successful countries
Many countries have been using solar power energy in order to meet the increasing
energy demands. On April 30 this year, Germany has established a new national record in use of
renewable energy resources. More than 85% of the energy consumed in the country has been
produces from the renewable energy resources especially solar energy along with the energy
from wind, biomass and hydroelectric power. Solar panels lines the residential rooftops of
Germany (Winter, Szmann & Vant-Hull, 2012). The cost of implementation of this solar power
generation has been significantly high. However, the success rate of implementation of solar
energy generation has been noteworthy. The core process of Germany’s solar PV program is
associated with a set of FITs for installation of solar PV of various sizes. It guarantees fixed
electricity compensation and the program requires involvement of transmission system operators
to purchase all the power obtained from the PV systems (Zhang et al., 2013). The program has
undergone a number of reforms over the years in response to the unexpected growth in
installation above expectations. The recent reports suggest that the solar energy resources
represent almost 50% of the peak energy demand in Germany. The increasing use of renewable
energy resource has helped in putting down the prices of the existing fossil fuel generator. The
lesson learnt with the successful experiences in solar power generation in Germany is that the
impact on trade-exposed heavy usage of electricity can certainly be mitigated by using nature
and renewable energy resources (Aanesen, Heck & Pinner, 2012). The use of solar energy
resources have helped Germany in becoming Europe’s strongest buoyed by an excellent
renewable industry. Germany was one of the first countries that have developed and
implemented renewable power generation. The use of solar energy as the primary energy
resource in Germany has helped the country is reducing the emission of green house gas as well

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as dust emission. Furthermore, it decreases the import of fossil fuel in Germany. The overall
investment on renewable energy in 2012 was Euro 19.5 billion, while the savings were over
Euro 10 billion (Prasad & Snow 2014).
Another example of successful implementation of solar power energy is China. It is the
world’s biggest investor of clean energy resources. China has implemented distributed solar
power projects in buildings, malls and schools. The electricity output from the photovoltaic
plants is almost 80% (Zhao et al., 2013).
Japan is another country that shows a leading growth in the use of solar power resources.
The boom in the solar power is accelerating dramatically in the country. Japan is forecasted to
have eight Gigawatts of solar installation by the end of 2017. With the advent of solar power and
electricity generation using solar power, a series of reform has been laid on the nation’s
electricity system (Singh, 2013).
The Montaldo di Castro solar power plant in Italy is the largest generating photovoltaic
plant in the world and is a great source of energy. The benefits obtained from the energy plant
include energy independence for the entire community and stimulation of the local economy.
Furthermore, it saves the carbon emission of the country by 70000 tons/year. The Italian
subsidiary has implemented more than 110 national photovoltaic projects that strengthen their
marketing position in renewable energy sector.
United States have successfully implemented the idea of generation of electricity using
solar energy. Solar power has become more affordable in the United States as the electricity
obtained from the solar power plants is enough to power 5.7 million houses in America. The
success of solar power implementation has resulted in decrease of the cost of solar panels by

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50%, while the cost of solar electric system has dropped by 50%. Furthermore, the market of
solar energy is gradually gaining popularity across the country. Another major advantage of
setting up solar plants is that, it increases the job opportunities. Research data proves that, there
were a growth of about 123% in solar jobs since November 2010, with the number of solar
workers in United States being as high as 209,000. Deployment of the solar energy has helped
the country in supporting broader priorities, which includes national security, economic growth,
climate change mitigation and job creation. The major benefit of PV is that, it can be installed
even on the rooftops and therefore there is a very little impact on land usage.
Even France has been successful in implementation of solar power plant to generate
electricity by eco-friendly methods. It has also opened world’s first solar panel road in village
Normandy. The energy capacity of the solar power in France is increasing at a rapid pace.
Apart from these mentioned countries, other countries such as Spain, Australia, Belgium
and South Korea have been successful in implementation of solar power plants. This has reduced
the use of non-renewable energy resources in the country, which reduces pollution.
3. Selecting an appropriate process-500
Saudi Arabia can deploy both Photovoltaic and concentrated solar power in order to
harvest the highest normal irradiation DNI to produce energy from a renewable, clean and
sustainable resource (Luna-Rubio et al., 2012).
3.1. The Photovoltaic Process
Photovoltaic power is responsible for converting the solar energy to electrical energy
using the cells that are generally made from the crystalline silicon. A photovoltaic model is a

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module containing photovoltaic cells made of silicon layers (Madaeni, Sioshansi & Denholm,
2013). These cells are termed as bricks. The photons of sunlight on hitting the surface of these
cell, transmits their energy to the electrons present in the cell. This instigates the movement of
the electrons that creates a direct current. This DC is later converted into AC by a convertor. The
photovoltaic energy is capable to be harnessed both in industrial level and by individual
homeowners as well.
3.2. The CSP Process
CSP or concentrating solar power Technology makes use of mirrors to focus the sunlight
and convert it into high temperature heat. The heat thus generated is channeled through a
conventional generator. This type of solar plant mainly consists of two parts, one for collecting
and converting the solar energy to heat energy and other for converting the heat energy to
electricity (Kuravi et al., 2013). The CSP technology mainly requires large area for collection of
solar radiation in order to produce the energy at a commercial scale. This technology makes use
of three alternative approaches, which includes trough systems, power tower systems and engine
system.
Trough systems use large and U shaped reflectors with oil-filled pipes running along the
center or the focal point. The reflector is tilted towards the sun. The focused sunlight heats the oil
in inside the pipes, which in turn is used for boiling the water to run the convectional stream
turbines and generators (Lovegrove & Stein, 2012).

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Figure 1: Representing the Trough System
(Source: Romero & Steinfeld, 2012)
Power tower system, which is called central receivers, uses large, flat heliostats to track
the sun and focus its rays into the receiver. The receiver is placed at the top of a tall tower and
the focused sunlight is used to heat molten salt. The steam thus generated can be used for
electricity generation or can be stored for later use (Ho & Iverson, 2014).
Figure 2: Representing the Power tower system
(Source: Shabgard et al., 2012 )

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Dish engines on the other hand use mirrored dishes to focus the sunlight into the receiver.
The receiver is generally mounted at the focal point of the dish. The receiver is connected to a
high-efficiency combustion engine. The engine consists of thin tubes containing hydrogen or
helium gas. On receiving sunlight, the gas tubes are heated to a very high temperature (Zhang et
al., 2013). The rise in temperature results in expansion of the gas inside the cylinder, which in
turn is used to drive the electric generator for generation of electricity.
Figure 3: Representing the Dish Engine system
(Source: Zhang et al., 2013 )
3.3. The Chosen process for Saudi Arabia
After evaluation of both the processes of solar power generation, it is recommended for
Saudi Arabia to undertake Photovoltaic process. This is because this process is more feasible and
can be implemented more easily. Furthermore, the implementation of CSP technology requires a
large area for setting up the different systems. On contrary, the PV cells can be set up more
easily and on rooftops of buildings as well. It does not need a large area for implementation of

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the system. The CSP method can be implemented only for commercial or industrial purpose. The
photovoltaic cells on the other hand can be used both for commercial and household purposes.
Another advantage of the PV power system is that, it converts sunlight into electricity directly. It
is very easy to install and even a residential power system lets a homemaker to generate all the
electrical energy demand (Prasad & Snow, 2014). However, CSP technology can also be used
for generation of electricity of a commercial scale. The climate of Saudi Arabia is favorable for
setting up of a solar power plant as the country has ambient temperature and receives long
exposure to sunlight.
4. Installing process
Installation of Photovoltaic cell includes a number of phases. The different phases of
installing PV system is elaborated below-
1. Evaluation of a proper building site for solar potential – This is the major stage of
installation of solar PV. The installation site should be free from shading and nearby tress,
building or any other form of obstruction. The property, land or the roof thus selected should be
enough to accommodate the solar array. In case of mounting the system on the roof, the
condition of the roof is needed to be evaluated. The major advantage of PV module is that, it is
flexible to be mounted anywhere, be it a pole, wall or ground. However, the photovoltaic arrays
are adversely affected by shading. Therefore, the location of installation needs to be unobstructed
and should have a direct access to sunlight from about 9 am to 3 pm throughout the year.
Shading from a single branch of a tree can reduce the power output of the solar module to a
considerable amount. Any type of hindrance from vents, skylights and gables should be avoided
as it reduces the solar power output to a considerable amount.

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2. The orientation of the PV modules should be accurate. The PV modules are generally
oriented towards the south. However, solar modules produce 95 percent of the full power within
20 degrees of the Sun’s direction. An optimum tilt in the PV array is further essential for getting
optimum result (Espinosa et al., 2012).
3. Common grid-connected PV configurations and components are needed to be
evaluated. The basic component of grid-connected PV system includes solar photovoltaic
modules, array-mounting racks, grounding equipment, combiner box, surge protection, inverter,
meters and disconnects.
The location in Saudi Arabia that can be efficiently used for this project is Riyadh. A
solar plant can be set up in Riyadh as it receives adequate amount of sunlight. It is assumed that
the PV modules will be tilted towards the south. It is further essential to determine the system
cost before implementation of the project (Hernandez et al., 2014).
5. Economic area
The solar power project is estimated to include an investment of nearly $50 billion. This
project is intended to source electricity of 10GW by the year 2023. The country is aiming to
generate 30 percent of the energy requirement of the country. This project would definitely
reduce the use of conventional energy resources thus resulting in the economic boom of the
country. The project is intended to increase the number of jobs in the country. Therefore, it can
certainly be said that using solar energy in Saudi Arabia will have a positive effect in the
economy of the country (Almasoud & Gandayh, 2015). The power that is generally deciphered
from the solar project under consideration is approximately 1.5 MWh per day. Therefore, the
payback period of the project can be obtained in no time. Furthermore, the cost of