Napier International Conference on solar and wind energy 14/04/2021

Reality and challenges of solar energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

Prof. Radwan Almasri Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Qassim University [email protected] Outline

➢ Introduction ➢ Potential of Solar Energy in KSA ➢ Dust Accumulation ➢ National Program ➢ Applications ▪ Electrical Systems ▪ Thermal Systems ▪ Thermal Solar Electricity Generation ➢ Case Studies ➢ Conclusion and Suggestions

2 Introduction

➢ KSA, in 2018, sold ≈ 290 TWh electricity, out of which share of renewable was 0.05 % . ➢ The electrical energy consumption per capita increase from 6.9 MWh to 9.6 MWh from 2007 to 2017 (8.434 MWh in 2019) ➢ In 2016, the KSA issued the "Vision 2030", a significant target is the addition of 9.5 GW of new renewable energy capacity.

3 Introduction

Electrical energy sold by sectors in KSA, 2015 – 2019

4 Introduction

Year(a) Name of PV Country Capacity MW 1980 Solar Village Saudi Arabia 0.35 1982 Lugo United States 1 1985 Carrisa Plain United States 5.6 2005 (Mühlhausen) Germany 6.3 2006 Erlasee Solar Park Germany 11.4 2008 Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park Spain 60 2010 Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant Canada 97 2012 Agua Caliente Solar Project United States 290 2014 (b) United States 550 2015 Longyangxia Solar Park China 850 2016 Tengger Desert Solar Park China 1547 2019 India 2050 (a) year of final commissioning (b) capacity given in MWAC otherwise in MWDC 5 The largest PV power stations in the world Introduction

Saudi Arabia’s Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority has approved a net metering scheme for solar PV systems from 1 kW to 2 MW for difference application. ➢ Approved on July 27, 2017, and published on August 21, 2017, ➢ The actual application on July 1, 2018. ➢ Charges for surplus energy generated or exported as per the consumption categories approved by Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA)

Charges Consumption Category (Halalah / kWh) (Cent USD/kWh) Residential Consumption 7 1.9 Other non-residential categories 5 1.3 But it is not used effective till now for this reason: ➢ No enough promotion. ➢ No financial support for investors. ➢ Lack of private companies to assist in implementation. 6 Potential of Solar Energy In KSA

Percentage the potential of solar energy and wind energy for power production in KSA.

Land Solar Residential Solar Government Roof Solar Solar wind buildings buildings Utility CSP 11% 3.8% 5.1% 45% 35%

➢ The annual average Global Horizontal Irradiation more than 2100 kWh/m2 in most regions. ➢ High potential of solar irradiation across most provinces, and mainly in Tabuk and Asir. The Average annual GHI in Saudi Arabia ➢ There is a growing interest in the field of solar energy in KSA. 7 Dust accumulation

➢ These issues are related to time period of cleaning. ➢ Most of the study period for these works was for a short duration of time. Climate factors Dust Surface Relative humidity Material Surface finish ➢ It depends on the Composition climatic conditions, dust and surface, Wind direction and speed Shape of beads Angle of inclination as in Tab. Solar radiation Size of beads Cell or collector

dimensions 8 Rain rate Accumulation rate Nature of the edges National Renewable Energy Program

➢ Two Projects Successfully Tendered in the First Round with a Capacity of 700 MW, Sakaka 300 MW PV and Dumat Al Jandal 400 MW Wind.

➢ Renewable Energy Project Development Office awarded the 300MW Sakaka PV project ➢ Broke global records for the lowest Levelized Cost of Energy LCOE for solar PV at 2.34 US c/kWh during the time of bid.

9 National Renewable Energy Program

➢ All projects tendered by Ministry of Energy are 100% Independent Power Producer (IPP) backed by 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). ➢ Ministry of Energy developed and tendered 10 projects in 2020 with a total capacity of 2,670 MW Round Two and Three. Bids Received for Round Two Projects of the National Round Three is comprised of four projects Renewable Energy Program, begin 2020. with a combined capacity of 1,200 MW of PV, April 08, 2020. PROJECTS Levelized Cost of Energy LCOE (Cent USD/kWh) CATEGORY A, (February 2020) Category, A Madinah PV IPP (50 MW) 1.90 – 3.0 Wadi Ad Dawasir 120 MW Rafha PV IPP (20 MW) 3.45 – 5.0 Layla 80 MW CATEGORY B, (20 January 2020) Category, B Al Faisaliah PV IPP (600 MW) - Ar Rass 700 MW Jeddah PV IPP (300 MW) 1.6 – 1.8 Saad 300 MW Rabigh PV IPP (300 MW) 1.6 – 1.8 10 Qurayyat PV IPP (200 MW) 1.7 - 1.8 Electrical Applications

Name of Project Capacity Producing No. of PV Area (m2) Save CO2 (MW) (MWh/a) emissions (t/a) SAKAKA IPP PV, Al Jouf 300 - 1,200,000 6,000,000 - KAUST PV Project, Thuwal 2 3,300 - 12,000 1,700 PV SADAFCO Project for 0.226 with 28 2,000 1,600 - car parking, Riyadh generators Overview of PV ALMARAI PV Project, Al 15 28 44,000 720,000 - solar applications Kharj GWh/year first phase of Layla Solar 10 - - 720,000 - in KSA. Power Plant, Al-Aflaj Aramco parking PV project 10 - 126,000 - 12,125 4,450 parking, Dhahran King Abdul Aziz airport, 5.4 - - - - Jeddah Solar village 50 km (1980) 0.35 1-1.5 - - - northwest of Riyadh MWh/day 11 Thermal Applications

Name of Project Application Collector solar Storage area m2 fraction Size Princess Noura Solar district heating for 25.4 MWth - 6 Storage University for space heating and hot / 36,300 tanks à 150 3 Women (PNUW), water demand m each Overview of major Riyadh, KSA solar hot water Saudi Aramco – Domestic hot water for Flat Plate 35% for - applications in KSA KAPSARC, Riyadh, 191 residential villas collectors SWH KSA and seven buildings Nestle Waters, Industrial hot water 515, Power - 36 m3 per Riyadh, KSA supply for bottle MWth 0.36 day washing Holiday Inn Hotel, Water Heating System 234 - 36 m3 per Riyadh, KSA for 300 rooms Collectors day 12 Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

Country KSA KSA Kuwait UAE UAE UAE CSP Waad Al CSP Tower CSP Trough ISCC Duba Project Project Name Shamal Project operated Project operated Shams 1 1 located at ISCC Plant by DEWA by DEWA Shagaya Parabolic Parabolic Parabolic Power tower, Parabolic Technology Parabolic trough trough trough trough 260 m trough Overview of Capacity Concentrated Solar 43.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 600.0 100.0 (MW) power (CSP) projects Power Block Rankine Rankine Rankine Rankine Rankine cycle Rankine cycle Type cycle cycle cycle cycle Heat- Thermal Therminol Transfer Thermal oil Molten salt Molten salt Thermal oil Oil VP-1 Fluid Type Dual tank Dual tank direct Dual tank Thermal Not Not indirect for for 15 h Molten indirect for 10 h None Storage type applicable applicable 13 10 h salt Molten salt Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

➢ Design Features of the World's First Commercial Concentrating Plant Using the Particle Heating Receiver Concept. ➢ A Particle Based Power Tower (PBPT) System. ➢ A CSP system where particles are heated in the receiver of a power tower system, and the particles are also typically used as a thermal energy storage medium.

14 Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

Why the Interest? ➢ Very high operating temperature limit (> 1000 C). ➢ No corrosion or freezing issues. ➢ Cost of particles can be low. ➢ Efficient power cycles can be used - Supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle ( 700 C 800 C). ➢ OR cost-effective commercial gas turbines can be used – Hybrid KSUs 300 kWth Test Facility solar air Brayton cycle.

Project was funded by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) 15 Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

A 100 kWe microturbine was used in a hybrid solar air Brayton system

16 Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

➢ Waad Al Shamal is a mega industrial zone - Strong mining focus (phosphate, aluminum) ➢ SEC owns a 1.39 GW integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) power plant - Parabolic trough plant provides 50 MW ➢ SEC will use the PHR plant to further showcase its confidence in CSP 17 Thermal Solar Electricity Generation

Design Features: Heat Exchanger - KSU patented a direct contact heat exchanger

CASE 1 CASE 2 CASE 3 Molten Salt PHR System (With KSU PHR System (With KSU Power Tower Heat Exchanger) Heat Exchanger) Nameplate 26.5 26.5 100 Capacity (MW) Levelized Cost of 7.14 4.40 3.88 18 Energy (¢/kWh) Case Study – Absorption Chiller

Parameter Value

Collectors' area 52.5 m2

ACH chilled power 32 kW

ACH nominal COP 1.1

DB power 21 kW

Tank volume 1 m3

P1 rated flow rate 4000 kg/h

P2 rated flow rate 2100 kg/h

Office building 240 m2

The experimental setup is designed in order to use flat-plate evacuated solar collectors, driving a double effect LiBr–H2O absorption chiller in Dammam. 19 Case Study - SWH

Flat Plate SWH Evacuated Tube SWH Locations of study Simple Payback time of six sites under investigation No local standard for solar thermal systems or components

20 Case Study - PV System in residential buildings

PV monthly electrical energy production. The maximum PV size as per the available area Riyadh Hail Abha Total Module NO# of PV system GRC System Area (m2) Area (m2) panels Area (m2) (%) Capacity Annual Yield factor (kWp) 1649 1711 1765 (kWh/kWp/year) 233 2.2 46 101 43.3 18.4 Annual Capacity factor (%) 18.8 19.5 20.1

21 Case Study - PV System in residential buildings

According to the energy trend website, ➢ In 2020, the average price of solar panels for 325 W and 375 W are around $0.188 and $0.195/W. ➢ Thus, a cost of 18.4 kW system PV modules price will be approximately $3,459 and $3,588. ➢ However, a PV module used in this study has an 18.4 kW peak capacity in KSA around $5,520.

➢ The total cost of PV systems 13,707 $ ➢ The annual energy production for all locations was 30.5 – 32.5 MWh

22 Case Study - PV System in residential buildings

80,000 18 70,000 16 60,000 14 12 50,000 10

40,000 kWh

8 Years 30,000 6 20,000 4 10,000 2 0 0 46 46 24 34 21 46 46 30 46 27 14 37 23 46 23 11 26 16 Panels BC SEC SBC-602 BC SEC SBC-602 BC SEC SBC-602 TI senarios Riyadh Hail Abha

Building Energy Need PV Energy SPB NDPBT

SPBT and NDPBT of all PV systems. 23 Case Study - PV System in residential buildings

GHG emission reduction by applying unified PV system. Consequences of GHG emissions: 1. Ozone Depletion 2. Increasing Earth City GHG emission reduction (tCO2) (CFCs and HFCs) Temperature: Riyadh 22.9 Solution Measures: Solution Hail 23.8 Kyoto and Montreal Measures: Paris Abha 24.5 Protocol Agreement

24 Case Study - PV System in residential buildings

➢ Official export tariff is (0.019 $/kWh) as declared by ECRA.

➢ The number of years needed to offset the initial investment for proposed PV system exceeds the life of the project.

➢ the SPBT is 13.42 years if the energy produced is exported to the grid at 0.048 USD/kWh which is equivalent to the tariff of the SEC for the residential sector.

Effect of export tariff on the simple payback time and internal 25 rate of return of the grid-connected PV system. Conclusion and suggestions

Suggestions to take advantage of available solar energy in the KSA: ➢ National taxes should ensure all cost of used energy, including environmental, health and other external costs.

➢ Increase the government support for research of SE technologies.

➢ The new government regulations of electric use should be reviewed.

➢ Establish university programs on SE in most universities and introduce courses for students of the faculties of architecture, science, agriculture and others.

26 Conclusion and Key Findings

➢ Focus on thermal and electrical solar applications for cooling and AC.

➢ Produce a local standard for solar thermal systems.

➢ Application of variable electrical energy consumption tariff by peak time.

➢ Study the effect of dust accumulation on collectors/PVin detail.

➢ Establish a unified government organization to communicate on SE projects, with which all project informationis available.

27 References

1. Almarshoud,A.F., Technical and Economic Performance of1MW Grid-connectedPV system inSaudi Arabia.Int. Journal of Engineering Researchand Application, 2017. 7(4): p. 09-17. 2. Abd-ur-Rehman, H.M., et al., The potential of energy savings and the prospects of cleaner energy production by solar energy integration in the residential buildings of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018. 183: p. 1122-1130. 3. Annual Statistical Booklet forElectricity and Seawater Desalination Industries, File:///D:/Users/rmasr/Downloads/true.pdf. . 2019. p.164. 4. Almushaikah, A.S. and R.A. Almasri, Evaluating the potential energy savings of residential buildings and utilizing solar energy in the middle region of Saudi Arabia – Case study. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 2020: p. 0144598720975144. 5. THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM, https://www.powersaudiarabia.com.sa/web/index.html. [ 24 February 2021]. 6. Saudi Arabia National Renewable Energy Program, https://www.ief.org/_resources/files/events/1st-ief-irena-seminar-on-renewable-and-clean-energy-technology-outlooks/faisal-al-yemni.pdf. [ 20 February 2021]. 7. Bids Received for Round Two Projects ofthe National Renewable Energy Program, https://www.powersaudiarabia.com.sa/web/attach/news/NREP%20ROUND2_%20All_Bids.pdf. [ 20 February 2021]. 8. Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA), Regulatory Framework for SmallScale Solar PV Systems, ERD - TA – 012 (V02/19), 26 December 2019, https://www.ecra.gov.sa/ar- sa/ECRARegulations/Regulations/Pages/Regulations.aspx. [24 February 2021]. 9. Solar resource maps ofSaudi Arabia, https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data/download/saudi-arabia. [5 March2021]. 10. Radwan A. Almasri, S.N., M. S. Alshitawi, A. A. Alrobaian, A Recent Review ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region. International Journal of Green Energy, 2021. 11. Concentrating Solar PowerProjects, https://solarpaces.nrel.gov/waad-al-shamal-iscc-plant. [5 March 2021]. 12. Ansary, H.A.,DesignFeatures ofthe World's First Commercial Concentrating SolarPower Plant Using the Particle HeatingReceiver Concept,in VSESA Conference, . 2020: Saudi Arabia. 13. Buonomano, A., etal.,Experimental analysis and dynamic simulationofa novel high-temperature solar cooling system.Energy ConversionandManagement, 2016. 109: p. 19-39. 14. R. Almasri andA. Almarshoud,Technical andEconomic Performance ofThermosiphonFlat Plate Solar WaterHeaters in Saudi Arabia. Transactions on Engineering and Sciences,2016. 4(4): p. 16. 15. R. Almasri andA. Almarshoud,Feasibility ofUsingEvacuated Tube Solar Water Heaters in Saudi ArabiaEuropeanJournal of Advances in Engineering and Technology, 2017. 4(4): p. 232-241. 16. Alardhi, A.A., Investigating the impact of applying Saudi Code of Energy Conservation on the Solar PV Energy Systems Cost in Residential Buildings, in Renewable Energy Engineering. 2020, Qassim University,College ofEngineering: Saudi Arabia.p. 103. 17. Almasri, R., Energieeffizienz und erneuerbare Energien in der Golfregion (Energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Gulf region), https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:ch1-qucosa2-348079 (German), in Technical Thermodynamics. 2019,TU Chemnitz: Germany. p.194.

28 Thank you very much your Attention

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