In the presence of His Royal Highness, Prince AbdulAziz bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy, the Geographic Survey Project for Renewable Energy Sites in Saudi Arabia was inaugurated. Saudi companies were awarded contracts to set up 1,200 stations for measuring solar and wind energy throughout the Kingdom.

HRH the Minister of Energy highlighted that this project, a key part of the National Renewable Energy Program, is globally unparalleled in terms of geographical scope. The survey will cover over 850,000 square kilometers, excluding populated areas, sand dunes, and restricted airspaces, which is comparable to the combined land areas of countries like the UK and France or Germany and Spain. No other nation has conducted a geographic survey of this magnitude.

The project aims to pinpoint the best locations for renewable energy projects based on resource availability and development priority. In its first phase, the stations will survey the entire designated area, and then they will be relocated to the identified sites to provide continuous, accurate data necessary for implementing renewable energy projects.

The Minister explained that solar energy measurement stations will be equipped with advanced devices to record various metrics, including Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI), dust and pollutant deposition rates, ground-reflected radiation (albedo), ambient temperature, rainfall levels, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.

Wind energy measurement stations, installed at heights up to 120 meters, will record wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and relative humidity.

HRH noted that data collection will utilize the latest technologies and adhere to the highest quality standards. The Ministry of Energy will establish a platform to monitor, record, and transmit data around the clock. This data will be digitally analyzed and processed using artificial intelligence to assess and rank sites based on their suitability for renewable energy projects.

The continuous and accurate data will meet the requirements of local and international financial institutions, facilitating immediate land allocation for renewable energy projects and expediting their announcement and execution. This eliminates the current waiting period of 18 to 24 months for data acquisition. The availability of such data reduces implementation risks, enhances investment attractiveness, and encourages investor participation in renewable energy projects.

HRH emphasized that this project underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving its ambitious renewable energy production and export targets. It will optimize the use of renewable resources, support the Kingdom’s strategic position for exporting renewable electricity, and promote the production of clean hydrogen.

The project will contribute significantly to achieving the optimal energy mix for electricity production, aiming for renewable energy sources to comprise about 50% of the energy mix by 2030, and support the goals of the Liquid Fuel Displacement Program by reducing reliance on liquid fuel for electricity generation.

Starting from 2024, the Kingdom plans to tender new renewable energy projects with a capacity of 20 gigawatts annually, targeting between 100 and 130 gigawatts by 2030, depending on electricity demand growth.

In conclusion, HRH the Minister of Energy expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, and to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Energy Mix Affairs for Electricity Production and Enabling the Renewable Energy Sector, for their continuous support in enhancing the Ministry’s capabilities and efforts to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.