Energy system resilience Saudi Arabia

How can Saudi Arabia improve climate resilience?

Diversification of energy sources: one of the strategies for climate resilience is to diversify the energy mix. Saudi Arabia has recognized the importance of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and has been actively pursuing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power .

Does Saudi Arabia have an energy eficiency program?

Figure 2: Saudi’s energy transition journey. Source: Authors. One of the first energy eficiency initiatives in the KSA is the launch of the National Energy Eficiency Program in 2003 as a three-year program to improve the man-agement and eficiency of electricity generation and consumption in the kingdom.

Will Saudi Arabia generate 50% of its electricity from renewables?

In January 2021, Saudi Arabia announced its intent to generate 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, with the other half coming from natural gas-fired power gen-eration (Paraskova, 2021). The total renewable energy installed capacity in Saudi Arabia has increased from 3 MW in 2011 to 413 MW in 2020 (Figure 3).

Why is Saudi Arabia focusing on solar and wind power?

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in renewable energy development, focusing on solar and wind power. Ambitious projects such as the Sakaka Solar Plant and the Dumat Al Jandal Wind Farm highlight the country commitment to diversifying its energy mix and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) .

What are the key energy policies to tackle change in Saudi Arabia?

Two key energy policies to tackle change are: energy eficiency and renewable energy. Within this context, this analysis intends to: (1) explore the ongoing energy transition in Saudi Arabia; (2) examine the role of renewable energy in achieving the sustainability goals in Saudi Arabia.

Why is Saudi Arabia developing alternative energy sources?

Along with joining global forces to addressing climate change and accelerating the needed energy transition, Saudi Arabia is driven by other socio-economic factors to developing alternative energy sources.