Renewable Energy Research and
Development in Saudi Arabia; Role
of KACST
Presented By
Dr. Yousef Alyousef
Energy Research Institute
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
ERI Strategic Goals
The main focus of the Institute's efforts
will be to:
Adapt,
implement, and produce
energy-related technologies
Present practical solutions to
reduce energy waste in all sectors
ERI Strategic Goals
 Produce
national databases of
renewable energy resources
 Direct research towards the
energy efficient provision of
basic needs in remote areas
 Study the environmental impact
of different energy sources
Major Accomplishments in R&D

International Joint Research Programs
– Saudi-US Solar Program, SOLERAS
– Saudi-German Joint R&D Program, Solar
Dishes, HYSOLAR

National Research Programs
–
–
–
–
PV Tunnel Lighting
PV Grid-connected system
Sadus PV-Desalination Plant
Solar Dryers

Solar Village (SOLERAS)
– 350 kW PVPS, completed in
1981, 1st in size and
complexity
– Supplied 1 to 1.5 MWh/ day
to three villages
– Experiences acquired contribute significantly to
technology development
– establishing the Solar Village test facility
(thermal-sun simulator, PV-sun simulator &
other installations)

Solar-powered Seawater Desalination
– completed 1984, indirect contact heat transfer
freeze process (200 m3/day)
– Annual average solar energy collected is 2.2 MWh/
day
– Investigation of solution to mirror edge protection
against environment
– Improvement
of
solar
collector
tracking
mechanism
– Development
of
new
commercial
freeze
desalination equipment

Solar Hydrogen Demonstration Plant
(HYSOLAR)
– 350 kW World 1st, in large capacity, solarpowered hydrogen production plant, 1986
– Acquire and transfer scientific knowledge for
commercial production and use of solar
hydrogen in Saudi Arabia
– Demonstrate
safety
of
solar-hydrogen
production using Solar Village 350kW PV plant
– Evaluate use of hydrogen as a future fuel
Fuel Cell R&D:
 Established an in-house know how
 PAFC (1992-97); half cell, mono cells,
100, 250, 1 kW stacks
 PEMFC(1998-2005) ; gas flow
designs, H2 humidification, electrodes
fabrication
Current Activities:
 Utilization of Liquid Fuels in SOFC
 Development of Nano-tube Platinum
Catalyst DMFC
 Preparation of Nano-ceramic materials
using sol-gel process for SOFC

PV-Powered Highway Lighting
– project sponsored by KACST
– generate
about
1.5
MWh
of
solar
electricity/day
– include two remote tunnel lighting of 240 m &
546 m and 48 & 57 kWp and 6000 & 4900 Ahr
battery size respectively
– calculated cost of kWh is around US$0.10

PV-grid connection studies
Established in 1996
6 Arrays, 1Kw per Array;
Total System Size is 6
kW
No Storage System, i.e.,
Cost Reduction by 40%.

Solar Dryers
– utilise solar energy in
dryer agriculture crops
– Development and
testing of designs
appropriate for climatic
conditions
Resource Assessment

Solar Resource
Assessment
– 12 high quality solar
radiation monitoring
stations
– monitor total horizontal,
direct normal & diffuse
radiation
Resource Assessment

Wind Resource
Assessment
– 5 wind monitoring
station, 40 m tower
– 2 Wind speed at 40, 30 &
20 m, 2 Wind vane at 30 &
40 m.
– global insolation,
ambient temperature,
relative humidity and
barometric pressure
Solar Energy
Solar Cell Technology
Solar Cell Production
Solar Power Plant
National organizations involved in helping
to achieve our energy efficiency goals
Ministry of Water & Electricity
Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals
Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs
Saudi Arabian Standards Organization
Saudi Electricity & Co-generation Regulatory Authority
http://www.neep.org.sa
NEEP Objectives
1.
Energy Audit
2.
Energy Efficiency Information and
Awareness
3.
Load Management and TOU Tariff
4.
Efficient Utilization of Oil and Gas
5.
Promotion of Energy Service Industry
6.
Equipment Labels and Standards Program
7.
Building Codes for Energy Efficiency
8.
Technical and Management Training
NEEP Achievements Include

Conducted program of energy audits for selected
buildings and facilities

Initiated energy efficiency training and awareness
programs

Implemented a TOU tariff program for selected
commercial entities

Issued energy efficiency standards for selected
household appliances

Developed a labeling program for these appliances

Developed energy efficiency codes for new buildings

Established benchmarking of buildings & building
services
TOU
A study was conducted to evaluate Time of
Use of tariff program in K.S.A.
It contained the following items:
1. Field survey on the participation of
industrial, commercial sectors.
Hallah/K.W
2. Evaluation of response of the customers
in implementing the program. problems
3. Description of the appeared during the
Current tarrif
implementation.
4. Conclude suggested items to support
implementation
Hours of the day
18
Results of the program
2008
2007
2006
middle-easternwestern
Middle
region
middle-easternwestern
commercial customers
72
37
11
industrial customers
296
145
34
Total number of customers
386
182
45
90.6
21.5
item
Shifted load (M.W)
196
Labeling system for home appliances
Thank you