• Saudi Arabia targets 41 GW of solar by 2032. Event summary (May 8 - 9, 2012) 4th Annual Saudi Solar Summit hosted by KA.CARE, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Download presentations -  
• "We are not only looking for building solar plants, we want to run a sustainable solar energy sector that will become a driver for the domestic energy for years to come," Dr. Said Al-Odan KA.CARE consultant.
  
  Key points: Saudi is targeting to become a kingdom of sustainable energy rather
  than just a kingdom of Energy. Strategy is to maximize returns for KSA
  through: oil saving, establishing a new economic sector, and ensuring
  sustainability. No long term government subsidies targeted, industry has to
  be competitive locally & globally
  
  - Saudi will use solar not just to do peak load shaving, rather it will
  use it to do load following (matching) to maximize return, so CSP with
  storage will be a key
  
  - Targets are 41 GW (out of total of 121 GW installed capacity) from
  solar by 2032 (16 GW from PV, 25 GW from CSP). This represents about 4% and
  36% of worldwide PV & CSP installed capacity, respectively.
  
  - 21 GW will be generated from nuclear +geothermal + waste-to-energy by
  2032
  
  - 80% of power consumption in KSA is residential, and about 70% of it
  goes to HVAC systems. Demand in winter is 50% less than in the summer, 20%
  less at night compared to during the day.
  
  - For PV, estimated LCOE by 2030 is $0.07/Kwhr. For CSP, he cited an IPP
  project in Morocco that was won recently by a Saudi company (ACWA Power
  consortium) for a levelized tariff  of $0.1897/Kwhr
  
  - 80% of value chain will be localized in Saudi by 2032.  Value chain
  targeted goes beyond manufacturing to services, R&D and technology, etc.
  
  - Yanbu will become a pilot site for RE implementation in KSA. Will
  target energy efficiency as well as introducing solar energy (total (130MW)
  10% energy reduction by 2020).
  
  - SABIC is also interested to use solar, and cited interest in
  applications in solar cracking, gasification & reforming.
  
  - No feed-in-tariffs will be defined initially. Instead a competitive
  procurement process will be used for two rounds to help KACARE define what
  the FITs should be. FITs will vary depending by technology, so PV won't be
  competing with CSP for example. 1st procurement round will be for 2 to 3 GW,
  2nd will be for 3 to 4 GW, two rounds will be separated by 12 to 18 months.
  Duration of procurement is 6 to 8 months. 20 year PPA for energy only will
  be used. Bids evaluated based on price and non-price factors (like local
  content requirement LCR) with certain weight (i.e. 70% price, 30% LCR).
  Formula will be very transparent. No mandatory LCR will be specified for the
  1st round, but will be incentivized initially and a certain minimum will be
  specified at 2nd round (as a % of CAPEX). Potential bonus in FIT will be
  given if the developer exceeds the min. required LCR. A white paper will be
  circulated in June 2012 for registered companies to give feedback.  

• The first round of tenders will be launched in early 2013, with some 2GW
  divided into several projects up for grabs . The tender will be preceded by
  a 'stakeholder engagement' and the publication of a white paper outlining in
  more details KA-CARE's solar energy road map. For the
  1st RFP (did not specify when it will come out), 45 days will be allowed for
  companies to give feedback, then it will be adjusted and re-issued.
  
  Companies interested in taking part in the 'stakeholder engagement' are
  invited to contact KA-CARE at developer-registry@energy.gov.sa to express
  their interest and provide following information:
  -Company name
  -Representative's name
  -Technologies provided
  -Address
  -Phone
  -Fax
  -Website
  -Email   
• Industry comments - "Certainly shows very ambitious plans for solar and nuclear development.  I keep thinking how realistic are these goals to get up to 20% solar PV and CSP by 2032, and perhaps an equal additional amount from nuclear assuming the optimized scenario."
  "I find this to be overly optimistic.  2000 MW+ of solar power each year can
  be achieved only at a fantastic high cost to the economy."
• SASIA Matchmaking and Networking Event - September 17, 2012 -
  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia       
• Jobs - SASIA seeks Marketing Coordinator and Intern based in KSA 

For more information contact:   

Join SASIA Now - 

info@saudi-sia.com or visit www.saudi-sia.com 

• ESIA discusses the $109 billion expenditure on solar power in Saudi Arabia on the Dubai Business Breakfast show (103.8FM)   
• ESIA-DEWA announce MOU for solar roof pilot projects - 1.75 kW residential, 3-5 kW commercial    
• ESIA Event: May, 28, 2012 (9-11am) Rotana Hotel, Yas Island , Abu Dhabi. The Emirates Solar Industry Association, with the support of Schott Solar, will host the launch event for Masdar Institute's Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment.  This new Research Center will pioneer the development of solar and wind energy mapping for the UAE and globally. For the first time, we will have access to bankable data for specific project sites. The Center will help meet the UAE's objectives to increase the attractiveness of solar energy investment locally and support the International Renewable Energy Agency in its advancement of a publicly-accessible atlas of solar and wind resources, particularly for developing countries  
•  MENASOL 2012 is taking place in Abu Dhabi on 16-17 May 2012. The theme of this solar conference is to seize new opportunities & establish critical foundations to accelerate the success of solar energy in the MENA region.   

For more information contact:  

Laurentia van Lennep  

laurentia@emiratessolar.com