International Energy Forum Commends Launch of Saudi Arabia's Sakaka Solar Power Plant

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: The Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Joseph McMonigle today applauded the launch of Saudi Arabia's Sakaka solar power plant, the kingdom's first renewable energy project.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the IEF, the world's largest energy organization whose mandate is to promote dialogue on energy policy and support its members in the transition to a sustainable energy future.

"The opening of the Sakaka IPP PV power plant is a major step forward for the kingdom in its efforts to achieve climate change goals and find more sustainable energy systems," said Mr.McMonigle.

The launch of the Sakaka IPP PV was coupled with the signing of power purchase agreements (PPA) for seven new solar power projects in various locations throughout the kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The output capacity of these projects, in addition to the Dumat Al-Jandal wind energy project, which is close to completion, will amount to more than 3,600 MW. Once completed, the projects will power more than 600,000 households and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tons, the SPA noted.

Announcing the plant opening, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi Arabia aims "to nationalize the renewable energy sector, promote the local content in it, and enable the manufacturing of the components of solar and wind energy production locally, allowing the Kingdom, within the next ten years, to become a global hub for conventional energy, renewable energy and their technologies," according to the SPA.

In March 2021, Saudi Arabia announced that its Saudi Green Initiative will raise vegetation cover by planting 10 billion trees in the country. That work dovetails with the kingdom's Middle East Green Initiative, in which it will work with regional allies to plant an additional 40 billion trees.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, faces significant environmental challenges, including desertification and air pollution. During its presidency of the Group of 20 last year, the Saudi government secured the G20's endorsement of the concept of the Circular Carbon Economy, which supports technologies such as Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage and Direct Air Capture. These are expected to prolong the life of hydrocarbons by removing the greenhouse gas emitted when they are burned.