14 DAY TRIAL // For those unaware, Saudi Arabia has big plans concerning its future energy industry, meaning that high officials believe that it is well within reach to install enough photovoltaic systems so as to up solar power generation capacity to 41 GW by the year 2032.
Recent news on this topic informs us that the city of Mecca is to soon begin work on a giant solar farm, whose purpose will be that of meeting the electricity demands of 35 tunnels and other urban infrastructures.
Should things go as planned, it is expected that this solar farm will also help cut down on the electricity bills for this city, meaning that authorities will most likely have to spend ₤16.4 million (€20.55 million / $26.58 million) on energy on a yearly basis. Business Green informs us that Mecca's current mayor, Osama al-bar, also has plans to push for the installation of wind turbines, and that the possibility of using biomass to generate energy has also been given due consideration.
“We are open to all options, but solar must be there and then other renewable sources can go into the mix,” the mayor explained.
Although it is true that these electricity sources can be exploited within Mecca's perimeter, the fact remains that environmental conditions more than allow for a much more successful solar power industry, given the local high temperatures and blazing sunlight.
Apparently, bidding for this project will take place in January 2013, and its winner will be allowed to soon begin work on this project.
More precisely, construction activities are expected to start as early as 2013, and the solar farm could be up and running within five years' time.
“No city in Saudi Arabia owns power-generation assets, and we want to be first city that owns power plants and hopefully the first in the Muslim world,” mayor Osama al-Bar told members of the press.