Conergy completes largest solar park at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Saved greenhouse gas emissions: 6,000 times around the world in a car

The 2 MW solar plant consists of two rooftop solar installations with a capacity of one megawatt each, installed on the north and south laboratories of the university. The power system features premium components, combining over 9,300 high-efficiency solar modules with Conergy Suntop III mounting systems and Conergy 280K central inverters.

The photovoltaic plant occupies 11,577 square meters of roof space and produces 3,332 megawatt hours of clean energy annually, while also saving up to 33,320 tons of carbon emissions. This equates to carbon offsets of approximately 6,000 circumnavigations of the world by car. Conergy designed the park and was responsible for the engineering, supervision and commissioning while installation works and operational management were implemented by National Solar Systems.

'Green' Teaching: Conergy supports the university's ecological program

The solar park initiative is part of KAUST's wider green technology program: the flagship university wants to advance solar energy research through its Solar and Alternative Energy Science and Engineering Center and deploy clean energy solutions on its campus. For their ecological engagement, they have recently been awarded the prestigious LEED Platinum award by the U.S. Green Building Council.

KAUST Spokesman, says:

"We are pioneers and develop new and sustainable technologies. We are proud to be among the solar pioneers in our country and to have the first and the largest solar park at KAUST. Despite our country being the largest oil-producer, we think that it is essential to develop new and sustainable technologies for the benefit of the Kingdom, the region and the world. This commitment is built into the DNA of our infrastructure as well as our research and academic mission."

"Alternatives to fossil fuels have taken on a new urgency. We are extremely pleased to be part of this ground-breaking project," says Marc Lohoff, Head of Conergy Asia Pacific and the Middle East. "We support the future of renewable energy in the Middle East with our solar know how and the latest technology. This project demonstrates that the development of alternatives to traditional fossil fuel has taken on a new urgency, even in oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia."

Managing Director of National Solar System, Abdulhadi Al-Mureeh adds, "For the first time, clean power is flowing into the national grid. This is a historical event for us in Saudi Arabia. The strong collaboration and mutual cooperation between National Solar and Conergy was the secret formula behind this success."

OPEC countries powering beyond petroleum - Solar energy on the rise in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia, the largest oil producer of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) with approximately one-fifth of the world's proven oil reserves, is planning to make solar power a major contributor to energy supply in the next 5 to 10 years, according to the Kingdom's Minister for Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

"Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now," said Ali Al-Naimi, in an interview with Reuters.

The latest sustainability research report from Bank Sarasin further predicts that the use of solar energy in the Middle East will grow at an annual rate of more than 50% in the next five years. The Middle East has the benefits of favourable insolation levels and extensive areas featuring very low population densities, which are ideal characteristics for the deployment of solar energy.

Not only KAUST and its solar partners but also other big players in the energy branch see the opportunities of clean solar power in the Middle Eastern regions. Therefore, the landmark project was managed by Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil corporation and was executed by several large construction contractors including Saudi Oger.