Kingdom’s energy agenda on spotlight at 2012 Saudi Energy Exhibition

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans to derive 10% of its electrical supply from the sun by 2020, and eventually emerge as the world’s largest source of solar energy, with the Saudi Government strategising for the country to be able to generate five gigawatts of solar energy by 2020, said an announcement by Saudi Energy, organiser of the international show for Electricity, Lighting, Power Generation, Water Technology, and HVAC for Saudi Arabia. It added that the Government expected that the Kingdom’s nascent solar industry would create up to 15,000 jobs, and was encouraging the development of solar farms and plants for processing of raw materials and assembly, and other related facilities.

Reportedly, investors have already pledged more than USD three billion to fund solar panel component plants in Al Madinah province’s Yanbu port and in Jubail city in the Eastern province. Furthermore, a USD 380 million polysilicon plant is to be built along the Gulf coast, and will initially be able to produce 3,350 metric tonnes of solar-grade polysilicon by 2014.

According to the announcement, the development of the Kingdom’s local solar power sector and nationwide efforts to efficiently generate, manage and distribute energy and other vital resources will be on focus at Saudi Energy 2012 – the 15th edition of the show, taking place from May 7 to 10 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center in Riyadh. The edition will provide a venue for networking and transactions covering all aspects of the energy space, from power generation and lighting to water technology, air conditioning and electric power, the organisers claimed.

Giving further details of the event, Saudi Energy revealed that it would reintroduce four of Saudi Arabia’s top energy-related shows – Saudi Elenex 2012: The 15th International Electrical Engineering, Power Generation & Distribution Exhibition, to be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Water and Electricity; Saudi Luminex 2012: The 12th International Lighting Equipment Show; Saudi Aircon 2012: The 13th International Exhibition on Air Conditioning Heating, Ventilation & Refrigeration; and Saudi Water Tech: The 9th International Exhibition for Water Technology.