المملكة: Renewable energy is a strategic option to achieve sustainable development
He pointed out that these clean sources, such as solar energy and wind energy, provide advanced solutions to face environmental challenges and climate change.
The specialist in energy and renewable energy affairs explained M. Abdul Rahman bin Saleh Al -Shraideh, in a special interview with “Today”, that the Kingdom, with the support of Vision 2030, is moving in a confident pace towards promoting dependence on renewable energy, through leading initiatives and strategic projects such as the city of “Neum” and the green hydrogen project.
He also stressed that these efforts will contribute to achieving a comprehensive transformation in the energy sector, in order to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global pioneer in the field of clean energy.
To the dialogue ..
What is renewable energy and how does it differ from traditional energy sources?
Renewable energy is the energy derived from sustainable natural sources such as the sun, wind, water and vital mass, which is characterized by its ability to regenerate.
These sources are a clean and safe alternative to fossil fuel, as they reduce carbon emissions and contribute to combating climate change.
It is used to generate electricity, operating factories, and desalination, which makes it a strategic choice that supports sustainable development and energy security for future generations.
How important is renewable energy in the face of climate change?
M. Abdul Rahman Al -Shraideh
Renewable energy is an essential pillar in combating climate change, as it contributes to reducing carbon emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, which is the main cause of global temperatures.
By adopting clean and sustainable sources such as wind and sun, renewable energy enhances environmental sustainability and supports the transformation into a low -carbon economy.
For this, renewable energy has become a strategic necessity to counter environmental risks and protect the future of the world.
Renewable energy cost
The cost of renewable energy differs from fossil fuels in terms of the nature of investment and return.
Although the creation of renewable energy projects, such as solar power plants or wind energy, requires high initial investments, operating and maintenance costs are largely low in the long run.
On the other hand, fossil fuels depend on continuous costs to extract, transport and process resources, as well as fluctuations in its prices resulting from market factors and political geography.
This makes renewable energy a more stable and sustainable option, as it provides long -term fixed prices and contributes to reducing environmental and economic costs associated with traditional fuel.
What are the most prominent uses of renewable energy in the Kingdom?
The Kingdom uses renewable energy in various fields to support sustainability.
Its most prominent uses include electricity generation, such as the “Sakaka” station and “Sudair” solar energy station.
It is also used to sweeten solar water, which helps reduce fossil fuels. In addition, renewable energy contributes to operating factories in more efficient and sustainable ways, and providing remote areas with energy, which enhances rural development and provides practical solutions to expand infrastructure throughout the Kingdom.
Clean national initiatives
What are the prominent national initiatives in the field of renewable energy?
In the context of Vision 2030, the Kingdom adopted ambitious initiatives to enhance renewable energy, most notably the National Renewable Energy Program, which aims to generate 50% of electricity from clean sources by 2030.
Among the leading projects is the city of “NEOM”, which depends completely on innovative techniques such as green hydrogen to provide clean and sustainable energy.
The initiatives also included prominent projects such as the “Sakaka” solar power station and the “Dumat Al -Jandal” wind energy station, followed by a package of huge renewable energy projects, some of which entered into operation throughout the Kingdom, as it contributes to reducing emissions and enhancing environmental sustainability.
How does the government contribute to enhancing the use of renewable energy?
The Saudi government plays a pivotal role in enhancing the use of renewable energy by implementing supportive policies that include tax exemptions and financial incentives for local and international companies working in this sector.
It also seeks to provide the necessary infrastructure and regulate legislative systems that contribute to attracting investments and encouraging innovation in the field of clean energy.
In addition, the government continues to develop strategic projects that contribute to accelerating the transition to renewable energy and achieving the goals of Vision 2030, which enhances the sector’s growth and enhances the Kingdom’s role as a pioneering center in clean energy.
What is the role of the private sector in supporting renewable energy?
The private sector plays a vital role in supporting renewable energy, as it contributes significantly to building and operating major projects such as solar power stations and wind energy.
Through its investments, the private sector guarantees providing projects with modern technologies and specialized expertise that contribute to improving their efficiency and reducing their costs.
It also accelerates the adoption of clean energy solutions in various sectors, which enhances the achievement of sustainable development goals and contributes to strengthening the green economy.
Electrical and hybrid cars
Electric and hybrid cars play an important role in enhancing environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions resulting from the transport sector.
Electric cars work entirely on electricity generated by clean sources, which contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
As for hybrid cars, they combine gasoline and electricity engines, which reduces fuel consumption and improves energy efficiency.
This technology contributes to improving air quality and reducing pollution in cities, which enhances efforts to reduce climate change and support the achievement of sustainable development goals.
What are the challenges facing the adoption of electric and hybrid cars in the Kingdom?
The Kingdom faces challenges in adopting electric and hybrid cars, most notably the lack of infrastructure for electric charging stations, which limits the ability of users to fully rely on them.
The high cost of electric cars compared to traditional vehicles is an obstacle to the expansion of their use.
In addition, the market needs to increase awareness among consumers about the environmental and economic benefits of these cars, which enhances their understanding of its seriousness in the long run and contributes to accelerating the adoption of this technology in the Kingdom.
What steps the Kingdom take to support electric and hybrid cars?
The Kingdom takes strategic steps to support electric and hybrid cars, such as developing an integrated infrastructure for electric charging networks in cooperation with international companies. The government also provides financial incentives that include customs exemptions and tax facilities to encourage consumers to acquire these cars.
In addition, the Kingdom is working to enhance the local production of electric cars through advanced industrial projects, and in this context, the Public Investment Fund supports this transformation through its investment in a local company for the electric car industry and the operation of shipping platforms. All of this is in line with the goals of Vision 2030 to achieve environmental sustainability and economic development.
Energy challenges cleaning in the Kingdom
What are the challenges facing renewable energy in the Kingdom?
The renewable energy sector in the Kingdom faced great challenges in its beginnings, the most prominent of which is the development of the necessary infrastructure and high costs of some projects, as well as technical challenges in storing energy and its integration with national networks.
However, the Kingdom has succeeded in overcoming many of these obstacles thanks to the rapid progress in creating renewable energy projects and adopting innovative technologies.
Today, efforts focus on implementing huge energy storage projects throughout the Kingdom, which contributes to enhancing the stability of national networks, achieving sustainability, and increasing dependence on clean energy sources more efficient and reliable.
What are the solutions to overcome these challenges?
To overcome renewable energy challenges in the Kingdom, work is underway on several major solutions that include investment in research and development to develop innovative technologies in energy storage and enhance project efficiency.
The Kingdom has started to enhance partnerships between universities, research centers and specialized companies to find practical solutions to technical challenges.
The government and the private sector are also expanding infrastructure and supporting new projects financing. In addition, awareness campaigns have been launched and renewed concepts of renewable energy in the curriculum, and these efforts are being completed to expand awareness and support the full shift towards clean energy.
How can renewed energy be integrated into education?
The integration of renewable energy in education is a strategic step to enhance sustainability, and this can be achieved by inserting its topics in the curricula and specialized training programs for qualifying competencies.
Some universities in the Kingdom have begun to offer specializations in renewable energy, and we look forward to seeing educational models and international competing research programs that enhance innovation and support the Kingdom’s role in this field within the Vision 2030.
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