FollowSaudi Arabia inaugurated its first solar power plant on 1 October as it continues to diversify its energy sources. The 500 kW plant, located on Farasan Island, will save the equivalent of transferring 28,000 barrels of diesel fuel to the island annually.
The plant was constructed by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., a Japanese energy company partly owned by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.
The Kingdom is a prime location to harness solar energy because of its year-round sunshine. The sun in Saudi Arabia emits about 7,000 watts of energy per square meter over an average of 12 hours every day.
In February 2010, the Saudi government, in coordination with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, began building the first solar-powered water desalination plant.
Source: greencarcongress
