Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10RIYADH214
2010-02-21 13:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRH #0214 0521346 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211346Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2521 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIYADH 000214
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC (MONOSSON),S/CIEA
(GOLDWYN, SULLIVAN),S/SECC (PERSHING, ROCHBERG),SCIENCE
ENVOY ZERHOUNI, OES (FERGUSON)
DEPT PASS TO DOE FOR JONATHAN ELKIND, JAMES HART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV EPET PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT
REF: A. 09 RIYADH 1492
B. 09 RIYADH 1557
C. 09 RIYADH 1642
D. RIYADH 184
E. DHAHRAN 18
UNCLAS RIYADH 000214
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC (MONOSSON),S/CIEA
(GOLDWYN, SULLIVAN),S/SECC (PERSHING, ROCHBERG),SCIENCE
ENVOY ZERHOUNI, OES (FERGUSON)
DEPT PASS TO DOE FOR JONATHAN ELKIND, JAMES HART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV EPET PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT
REF: A. 09 RIYADH 1492
B. 09 RIYADH 1557
C. 09 RIYADH 1642
D. RIYADH 184
E. DHAHRAN 18
1. (SBU) King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
(KACST, effectively Saudi Arabia's science ministry)
announced a three-phase national plan for solar energy-based
desalination production in late January. The Kingdom has
abundant sun energy exposure on the order of 2,000 kilowatts
per square meter, which makes it a valuable alternative to
fossil fuel power generation. Several Saudi officials
including Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi have emphasized the
important role solar energy plays in diversifying the
nation's energy portfolio to meet the growing Saudi
population's energy demand. A total of nine desalination
projects are planned over the next few years at a cost of one
billion Saudi riyals ($267 million). The Saudi government's
goal is to add 30 gigawatts of generating capacity to its
electricity grid by 2010.
2. (SBU) The first solar desalination plant reportedly will
have a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters and will serve 100,000
people in Al-Khafji, along the Persian Gulf just south of the
Kuwaiti border. The plant will have a capacity of 10
megawatts and a reverse osmosis plant that uses existing
solar energy technologies. KACST jointly developed the
nanoparticle technology to be used in the plant with IBM.
The joint nanotechnology research program will seek to
develop low-cost water treatment and electricity production
-- less than one riyal ($.27) per cubic meter of water
compared to the current 2.5 to 5.5 riyal ($.67 to $1.47)
cost. KACST Vice President for Research Institutes Dr.
Prince Turki Al-Saud said the initiative would reduce the
cost of water and electricity production by 40 percent.
3. (SBU) A second station, whose location has yet to be
decided, will have a capacity ten times greater than the
Al-Khafji station, designed to produce 300,000 cubic meters
of water per day. Construction of the second station will
start after the first station is completed in as little as
three years. The projects involve not only KACST, but also
the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Water and Electricity,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Saline Water
Conversion Corporation.
SMITH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/ESC/IEC (MONOSSON),S/CIEA
(GOLDWYN, SULLIVAN),S/SECC (PERSHING, ROCHBERG),SCIENCE
ENVOY ZERHOUNI, OES (FERGUSON)
DEPT PASS TO DOE FOR JONATHAN ELKIND, JAMES HART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV EPET PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES SOLAR DESALINATION PLANT
REF: A. 09 RIYADH 1492
B. 09 RIYADH 1557
C. 09 RIYADH 1642
D. RIYADH 184
E. DHAHRAN 18
1. (SBU) King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
(KACST, effectively Saudi Arabia's science ministry)
announced a three-phase national plan for solar energy-based
desalination production in late January. The Kingdom has
abundant sun energy exposure on the order of 2,000 kilowatts
per square meter, which makes it a valuable alternative to
fossil fuel power generation. Several Saudi officials
including Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi have emphasized the
important role solar energy plays in diversifying the
nation's energy portfolio to meet the growing Saudi
population's energy demand. A total of nine desalination
projects are planned over the next few years at a cost of one
billion Saudi riyals ($267 million). The Saudi government's
goal is to add 30 gigawatts of generating capacity to its
electricity grid by 2010.
2. (SBU) The first solar desalination plant reportedly will
have a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters and will serve 100,000
people in Al-Khafji, along the Persian Gulf just south of the
Kuwaiti border. The plant will have a capacity of 10
megawatts and a reverse osmosis plant that uses existing
solar energy technologies. KACST jointly developed the
nanoparticle technology to be used in the plant with IBM.
The joint nanotechnology research program will seek to
develop low-cost water treatment and electricity production
-- less than one riyal ($.27) per cubic meter of water
compared to the current 2.5 to 5.5 riyal ($.67 to $1.47)
cost. KACST Vice President for Research Institutes Dr.
Prince Turki Al-Saud said the initiative would reduce the
cost of water and electricity production by 40 percent.
3. (SBU) A second station, whose location has yet to be
decided, will have a capacity ten times greater than the
Al-Khafji station, designed to produce 300,000 cubic meters
of water per day. Construction of the second station will
start after the first station is completed in as little as
three years. The projects involve not only KACST, but also
the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Water and Electricity,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Saline Water
Conversion Corporation.
SMITH