Rashed Al-Fawzan
Al-Riyadh
Until today I could not find a good reason for the Kingdom not investing in the alternative energy sector, especially in solar energy. We need not invent anything for this purpose as others have done it already. Solar energy and other alternative energy resources account for a major portion of global energy.
In Iceland, for example, alternative energy represents 100 percent of the total energy sources against 97 percent in Norway, 50 percent in Sweden and 47 percent in Portugal. These figures show that the production of alternative energy sources have become a strategic option of countries in the backdrop of major global developments, including depletion of fossil fuel caused by high consumption and supply of environment friendly sustainable and renewable energy resources.
Although the cost of production of renewable energy is high it is expected to fall by the passage of time. No country will be able to meet all the energy and service needs of its citizens for ever. It will reach the end as a result of continuous growth. Other economic challenges have also contributed to the present reality while environment pollution is threatening the whole world.
During my last business visit to China last month, I observed that solar energy is widely used in the country. They have installed solar cells on street light posts. We can imagine how many light posts will be in China. How much electricity it would have required if it was not using solar energy? I have also noticed increased use of alternative energy in factories and buildings.
We can see huge fans being installed on hill tops along the highways of China and Europe to generate electricity and this system is widely applied. I have seen one factory which was fully covered by solar cells and I asked the reason. They said they don’t use electricity but sell it to the government. We can also see solar-powered cars and this shows there is nothing impossible.
I am happy to note that there is a high degree of keenness in the Kingdom to use alternative energy sources. We have to use this energy for lightening streets, mosques, tunnels, schools and homes and some government buildings.
We can also use solar energy for our homes. I understand that it cannot operate air-conditioners in the summer but we can use it for other purposes. Why don’t we install solar cells on top of our homes and government facilities to meet 20 to 30 percent of our electricity requirements?
I would like to emphasize that we have to invest heavily in solar energy, which has huge potentials in a country like ours. It may be expensive in the beginning but with the passage of time it would become less expensive. We are badly in need of developing solar energy resources throughout the Kingdom as an important alternative energy source, which will not deplete.
