Saudi Solar No-Brainer→

Saudi Arabia has the world’s second best solar resource after Chile’s Atacama Desert, making investment in solar a no-brainer as an alternative to burning its most precious resource.

The Kingdom has for several years been talking up its plans to become a major player in solar power.

Four years ago a senior oil ministry official told Reuters: “We can export solar power to our neighbors on a very large scale and that is our strategic objective to diversify our economy. It will be huge.”

The goal is to go 30 percent solar by 2030.

Saudi Arabia to go 30 percent Solar by 2030?→

Robert Kennedy reports for Al Jazeera:

Synonymous with crude oil and the vast wealth it has bestowed, Saudi Arabia is now planning to tap its copious exposure to the sun to become the world’s titan of solar power.

The Saudi government is placing its bets squarely on the country’s abundant sunlight, as it seeks $109bn in investment to fire up its solar energy sector. A total of $136bn was invested worldwide in solar energy in 2011, underscoring the kingdom’s determination to develop its own industry.

The goal is to power about 30 per cent of the country's burgeoning energy needs by 2030.

Bold plans.

Makkah Goes Solar→

Wael Mahdi reports for Bloomberg:

The city on Jan. 5 plans to select from a group of at least 20 bidders competing to build and operate facilities producing 385 gigawatt-hours per year of power including 100 megawatts of solar capacity, said Mayor Osama al-Bar.

The country should have moved in that direction years ago. Better late than never, I guess. ♦