The kingdom of Saudi Arabia sits upon the world’s second-largest oil reserves, and as such, oil dominates the national economy. But in recent years, Saudi Arabia has begun taking advantage of the abundant sun and wind it enjoys by developing several major renewable energy projects. According to a new white paper published this week, Saudi Arabia will seek to develop 23.9 GW of renewable energy by 2020 and 54.1 GW by 2032, making it one of the biggest renewable energy producers in the world. The goals outlined in the new Saudi white paper are some of the most ambitious renewable energy targets set by any nation. Of the 54 GW of renewable energy the kingdom will develop by 2032, 41 GW will be solar power, and the other 13 GW will be powered by wind energy, geothermal and waste-to-energy power.
The news comes just months after Saudi officials announced plans for the country to transition to 100-percent renewable energy in coming decades. At present, the country is powered almost entirely by fossil fuels — two-thirds oil and one-third natural gas. Last spring, the country announced plans to invest over 76.35€ billion to develop 41 gigawatts of solar electricity by 2032. The new roadmap significantly eclipses that figure, and it shows Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a more sustainable energy future.
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