{"id":16711,"date":"2019-01-14T07:19:49","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T07:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/en\/?post_type=perspective&p=16711"},"modified":"2021-08-01T13:27:13","modified_gmt":"2021-08-01T13:27:13","slug":"can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity","status":"publish","type":"perspective","link":"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity\/","title":{"rendered":"Can renewable energy help answer water scarcity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Could joined-up thinking on energy and water scarcity help to propel Saudi Arabia and other countries towards a cleaner, bolder, healthier future?<\/p>\n

\"\"As Saudi Arabia continues to advance towards a clean energy future by investing in solar and wind energy<\/a>, analysis from the World Resources Institute (WRI) suggests it could be a strategic decision with profound consequences.<\/p>\n

The WRI has named Saudi Arabia as third in its list of the world\u2019s top 20 water-stressed countries with the most solar energy potential[1]<\/a>. \u00a0Other MENAT countries to feature in the list\u2019s top 10 include Yemen (1), Oman (4), Libya (5), Algeria (6), Morocco (7), United Arab Emirates (8) and Jordan (9)[2]<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The implications of this finding are significant: most traditional power production uses vast amounts of water to cool steam or power turbines, adding to the huge pressures on already scarce water resources.\u00a0 Solar power production, on the other hand, poses no such challenges to water-scarce environments.<\/p>\n

For countries like Saudi Arabia, where severe water scarcity is compounded by the expectation that energy consumption will treble by 2030, the need is particularly pressing. \u00a0Water supplies are under pressure due to higher than average per person use and rapid growth in industrial water demands.<\/p>\n

\"\"WRI analysis of the similar situation in India, however, demonstrates the potential gains that could be achieved by switching power production to renewable energy: the WRI found that if India meets its renewable energy targets, it could reduce its water consumption by more than 25%[3]<\/a>. \u00a0So the opportunities to ease the water stresses being placed on Saudi Arabia and other countries across the MENAT region are clear to see.<\/p>\n

With a Vision 2030<\/em><\/a> target of generating 9.5GW of renewable energy by 2023, which has already been brought forward by seven years from its initial date of 2030, the Saudi Arabia government is moving fast to maximize the potential benefits its natural environment presents. \u00a0This is reinforced by its stated goal of generating 54GW of renewable energy by 2040[4]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia\u2019s position in the \u2018Global Sunbelt\u2019 gives it an envious advantage over many other water scarce countries. \u00a0With some of the highest solar irradiances in the world (annual average daily global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is measured at 5700 WH\/m2<\/sup> to 6700 Wh\/m2<\/sup>)[5]<\/a>, Saudi Arabia has the potential to dominate the solar energy landscape in the same way it has been a global superpower in oil.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Through its wholly-owned renewable energy<\/a> business Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, (FRV) Abdul Latif Jameel Energy is already working to help countries such as Saudi Arabia to capitalize on their enormous renewable energy potential.\u00a0 Its leadership team can call on knowledge and best practice gained from installations as far afield as Chile<\/a> and Australia<\/a>, delivering a world-leading solution to some of Saudi Arabia\u2019s most pressing natural resources issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daniel Sagi-Vela<\/a>, Chief Executive Officer of FRV, solar and wind renewable energy company and part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAbdul Latif Jameel Energy has been leading the way on developing solar projects in the region [and] \u2026 we remain committed to being the leading solar PV development company in the Middle East and beyond.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is not only solar power that could help to ease Saudi Arabia\u2019s water scarcity issues. \u00a0It is also well placed to make use of the falling costs of wind power, ranking as the 24th<\/sup> water-stressed country with the highest wind energy potential[6]<\/a> (Andorra, Belgium and Kazakhstan make up the top three).<\/p>\n

Three Saudi Arabian regions hold average wind speeds of eight meters per second \u2013 33% higher than the point at which wind energy becomes commercially viable.<\/p>\n

With this combination of natural resources, together with commitment at the highest levels of Government and the expertise of industry leaders such as Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, Saudi Arabia has the potential to turn the challenges of water scarcity into an integrated sustainable-energy driven future.\u00a0 In doing so, it can drive forward a precedent that could transform other water-scarce economies and deliver an enhanced quality of life for Saudi Arabia\u2019s citizens.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Which countries could gain the most from renewable energy?<\/a> World Economic Forum, 17 May 2018<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> These 20 Water-Stressed Countries Have the Most Solar and Wind Potential<\/a>, World Resources Institute, 10 May 2018<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Parched Power: Water Demands, Risk, and Opportunities for India\u2019s Power Sector<\/a>, World Resources Institute, January 2018<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Renewable Energy Market Analysis: The GCC Region<\/a>, International Renewable Energy Agency, 2016<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Assessment of solar radiation resources in Saudi Arabia<\/a>, Solar Energy (vol. 119, pg 422-438), September 2015<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> These 20 Water-Stressed Countries Have the Most Solar and Wind Potential<\/a>, World Resources Institute, 10 May 2018<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":16715,"template":"","tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan Renewable Energy Help Answer Water Scarcity? | Abdul Latif Jameel\u00ae<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"While Saudi Arabia progresses towards a clean energy future by investing in solar & wind energy, studies suggest it could be a strategic decision with great results.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can Renewable Energy Help Answer Water Scarcity? | Abdul Latif Jameel\u00ae\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While Saudi Arabia progresses towards a clean energy future by investing in solar & wind energy, studies suggest it could be a strategic decision with great results.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Abdul Latif Jameel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Abdul.Latif.Jameel.Official\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-01T13:27:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.alj.com\/app\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Solar-sunset.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"604\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/perspective\/can-renewable-energy-help-answer-water-scarcity\/\",\"name\":\"Can Renewable Energy Help Answer Water Scarcity? 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