JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is planning an investment of at least $100 billion into clean energy resources over the next decade, including a target to achieve 5 gigawatts of solar-generated power, said the organizers of an upcoming solar summit. The Solar Arabia summit is taking place in Riyadh on Sept. 27 and 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel. Dr Essam Al-Ammar, senior advisor – Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Electricity and Power, and Dr Habib Abulhamayel, director of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, are among the delegation of industry experts attending the Solar Arabia summit organized by naseba, a business information company. They will highlight the challenges and examine the potential for solar energy in the region. Topics of discussion will include investigating Saudi Arabia's long-term vision for the sector, understanding the legal framework involved, and the latest advancements in solar technology. "The Middle East is seeing huge interest in investment in renewable energy, and Saudi Arabia's true potential is yet to be realized," said Nic Watson, managing director sales and marketing, naseba. "The Solar Arabia platform is a foundation that will allow leading players to contribute to the development of the Kingdom's alternative energy sector," he added. Key policy makers and government officials – involved in shaping the Kingdom's National Energy Plan – are meeting with international manufacturers and developers from the solar energy industry.
