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 Renewable Energy 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 power station Country Capacity MW 1980 Solar Village Saudi Arabia 0.35 1982 Lugo United States 1 1985 Carrisa Plain United States 5.6 2005 Bavaria Solarpark (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 Topaz Solar Farm(b) United States 550 2015 Longyangxia Dam Solar Park China 850 2016 Tengger Desert Solar Park China 1547 2019 Pavagada Solar Park 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 Solar Power 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.