Climate Conference 2022 | A Saudi plan to reach `zero` carbon emissions

Weather of Arabia - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was not far from the global move to confront climate change, but was one of the most prominent countries that took direct and quick steps to reduce carbon emissions, which are the main causes of climate change and global warming.

How does Saudi Arabia contribute to reducing carbon emissions?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed to a tight environmental plan that will bring the country to zero carbon neutrality by 2060 AD, and before that to reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 million tons annually by 2030, a goal that Saudi Arabia seeks to meet through vigorous efforts, including the expansion of Clean renewable energy projects and strategies that are environmentally friendly, and adopt innovative solutions.

• The National Renewable Energy Program

In order to fulfill these environmental commitments, Saudi Arabia launched the National Renewable Energy Program, a strategic initiative under the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Renewable Energy and Saudi Vision 2030; It aims to maximize the country's share in renewable energy production, and is also designed to balance the mix of local energy sources, and fulfill Saudi Arabia's commitments to avoid harmful emissions to the environment.

Through the program, Saudi Arabia is working to diversify the national energy mix used in the production of electricity, by increasing the share of gas and renewable energy sources in it; Saudi Arabia aims to achieve the optimal mix of energy, the most efficient and the least expensive in the production of electricity, by displacing the liquid fuel that is used in the production of electricity, and replacing it with gas and renewable energy sources, which will constitute approximately 50% of each of the energy mix for electricity production by 2030. .

Within the framework of the program, the Saudi Ministry of Energy is working on 15 renewable energy projects, including 14 solar photovoltaic projects and a wind energy project, with a total capacity of 701 gigawatts.

Two of these projects have been commissioned, namely the Sakaka solar energy project and the Dumat al-Jandal wind energy project, with a total capacity of 700 MW. Work is still in progress in the development stages of other projects, and work is currently underway to develop and launch future projects to achieve the targeted energy.

• Khafji desalination plant

The Al-Khafji solar water desalination plant is one of the most prominent Saudi models of success in the transition to clean energy, sustainability, and environmental preservation.

The plant, which is located in the city of Khafji on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, contributes, due to its solar energy, to the removal of about 10,000 barrels of oil and 12,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

The plant, which opened in 2018, and is considered the first in the world to use solar energy for desalination, has contributed to the emission of about 180,000 tons of carbon since its entry into service until now.