Impacts of Renewable Energy Generation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Over the last few years, the electric energy demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has increased many folds due to several factors including increased population, industrialization, economic activities, and urbanization. The main source of electric power generation in KSA is the burning of petroleum products. Almost one third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are contributed from the electric power generation sector, mainly, by burning diesel and natural gas. As a result, it makes it necessary to consider alternate forms of electricity generation in order to cut down emissions and to keep sustainable growth alive. The government has planned to diversify energy sources and suppliers. In recent years, energy generation from renewable sources including solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, concentrated solar power (CSP), biomass, geothermal, and tidal, has been given more importance. The ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 targets of 58.7 GW of power generation from renewable energy sources will cause a significant reduction in GHG emissions from the energy sector. This article systematically reviews the impact of renewable energy generation on GHG emissions. The detailed breakdown of GHG emission is discussed. Then, the status of renewable energy generation is investigated, focusing on the technical and economic potentials. The correlation of renewable energy generation and GHG emissions is then explained. The most distinguishing feature of this review is that it provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to reduce GHG emissions. The discussions and recommendations of this article will support decision makers, system planners, industry personnel, researchers, and academics to develop sustainable energy pathways for the Kingdom.

Sustainability marketing strategies for the energy sector: Trends, challenges, and future directions

“…Emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from power plants and industrial facilities can lead to smog, acid rain, and respiratory problems in humans. Water pollution can result from the discharge of pollutants, thermal pollution from cooling processes, and oil spills, which can devastate aquatic ecosystems and contaminate drinking water supplies [117][118][119] . The exploration, extraction, and transportation of energy resources can lead to significant habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.…”

Transforming Saudi Arabia’s Energy Landscape towards a Sustainable Future: Progress of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Deployment

“…The Sakaka solar PV project is one of the first large-scale commercial solar projects located in Sakaka, Al-Jouf Province of Saudi Arabia. The Sakaka solar PV project is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and increase its renewable energy capacity to 58.7 GW by 2030 [9,11,29,30]. This project also supports the Kingdom's efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its carbon footprint.…”

“…Thus, its commitment to renewable energy development could serve as a model for other countries seeking to transition to clean energy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a diverse topographical position, and therefore the exploration of RETs is of interest; for instance, due to the abundance of sunlight, it is an ideal location for solar energy production [9,10].…”

“…Thus, its commitment to renewable energy development could serve as a model for other countries seeking to transition to clean energy. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a diverse topographical position, and therefore the exploration of RETs is of interest; for instance, due to the abundance of sunlight, it is an ideal location for solar energy production [9,10]. Saudi Arabia has set a target of producing 58.7 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, comprising 40 GW from solar PV, 16 GW from wind energy, and 2.7 GW from concentrated solar power (CSP) [6][7][8], as illustrated in Figure 2.…”

Performance of Solar Hybrid Cooling Operated by Solar Compound Parabolic Collectors under Weather Conditions in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…Air conditioning in the KSA uses 70% of its electricity production [4]. The price for one barrel of oil in the international market is around Saudi Riyal (SR) 300 as of June 2023 [5]. The KSA is spending almost SR40 billion/per year on air conditioning, which is a huge amount.…”