RIYADH – Saudi Arabia's energy sector has been experiencing rapid growth due to burgeoning demand, economic expansion, and solid investment flows. Moreover, a 13 percent average electricity generation growth rate is needed by 2015 to meet demand, though investments in electricity projects to address supply requirements have already cost SR140.7 billion in 2012 alone. Against this backdrop, around SR502.5 billion worth of power generation and water projects are being lined up for the next decade to drive electrical generation upwards at around 49 percent through 2019. A study prepared by Center for Engineering Research for the Saudi Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority forecast, among others, that the demand is expected to reach a level of 57,808 MW in the year 2023. The energy requirement is expected to reach a figure of 343,110 GWh in the year 2023. The high growth in GDP scenario will result in demand of 93,779 MW in 2023. The corresponding energy requirement is expected to reach 556,607 GWh. The demand forecast for the low growth scenario is 52,588 MW in the year 2023. The corresponding energy requirement is expected to reach 312,127 GWh. The demand scenarios indicated that there was a clear need to develop generation plans that will meet the expected load. The plan developed provides additional generation requirements with adequate supply reliability and within reasonable costs. It also takes into consideration the economic life of the existing generating units. The study recommended, among others, that there is a need to perform detailed demand forecasts by sector, end-use and administrative-region wise. This would require substantial collection of data and analytical efforts. The study indicates that there is a need to add a large number of GT units in the Central Operating Area. These massive thrust keeps the Kingdom's power sector on track to remain the most dynamic in the GCC area over the next few years, with macroeconomic and demographic indicators pointing to a strong medium-to-long-term outlook as well. And underpinning these developments, efficient and effective solutions to address the Kingdom's surging energy demand will be unveiled at the upcoming Saudi Energy 2013 – the 16th International Trade Exhibition for Electricity Power Generation, Alternative Energy, Water Technology, Lighting & HVAC running slated on May 26 to 29, 2013 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Regarded as one of the largest and most specialized energy exhibitions in the Middle East and held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Water and Electricity, Saudi Energy covers major aspects of the energy domain, as it features four concurrent events, such as the Saudi Elenex, Saudi Luminex, Saudi Aircon, And Saudi Water Tech. “Factors such as a region's leading economy, ongoing structural reforms, growing and young population and a diversifying business landscape are all fueling Kingdom's demand to raise its energy output to unprecedented levels. By 2022 we could see electricity projects collectively worth SR300 billion up and running across the country. The rapid expansion of the Kingdom's energy sector requires keen insights on specific consumer needs, market and partnership opportunities, best practices, and the right technologies – all of which are precisely what Saudi Energy 2013 aims to deliver,” said Khaled Daou, Project Manager of Saudi Energy at Riyadh Exhibitions Company. Saudi Energy is certified by the UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. — SG
