Saudi Arabia is hosting the first international conference on renewable energy to present the Kingdom's determination to harness and explore the benefits and opportunities in the fields of solar, wind, biofuels and fuel cells energy. The holding of the conference indicates the keen interest of the Kingdom in exploring and investing in renewable energy, according to Dr. Sahel N. Abduljawad, head of the organizing committee of the conference and Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM). “This conference reflects the interest of the Kingdom in investing in renewable energy. The participation of local, regional and international experts in the field of solar, wind energy, and other energies in this gathering will hopefully encourage investment opportunities and achieve cooperation toward their applications in the Kingdom,” Abduljawad said. The three-day conference at the KFUPM starts Feb. 19. It will be attended by top ranking Saudi officials holding key positions in the energy sector and international experts in renewable energy. Abduljawad said the conference is being held under the patronage of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Abduljawad said the Kingdom has already taken bold steps in the application of renewable energy, among them the establishment of King Abdullah City for Atomic & Renewable Energy and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. He said among the projects on stream are the production of solar energy in Al-Khafji by means of steam and electricity, and the solar-powered projects of Saudi Electric Company and Saudi Aramco. Among the keynote speakers during the three-day conference are Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Muhammad, Vice President for Research Institutes at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and Dr. Khalid Suleiman, Vice President for Renewable Energy at King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. International speakers include those from Spain, France, Germany, Japan, United States, Canada, Finland and Switzerland. “Through this conference Saudi Arabia will seek to achieve more vitality through presentations and exchange of experiences and through wide scientific participations to achieve our objectives in the field of renewable energy,” Abduljawad said. __
