Saudi Arabia will invest US$26bn in 76 renewable energy projects across the country
The Saudi Green Building Forum stated that one of the projects shortlisted for this endeavour is the King Abdullah Financial District, which covers an area of 1.6mn sq m. In addition, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs said that 90,000 mosques across the Kingdom would be made eco-friendly.
Rolando Furlong, vice-president of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, Middle East and Turkey, added, ?UTC Building & Industrial Systems has been a leader in sustainability and the green building movement. With buildings in the Middle East accounting for more than 50 per cent of the region?s energy consumption, we place sustainability and energy efficiency at the core of our building solutions.?
A report in Forbes said that Saudi Arabia is keenly exploring the use of nuclear and solar energy to replenish its need for electricity. According to the Gulf Research Centre, the total electricity consumption in the Kingdom exceeds 200bn kWh per year and is expected to double by 2030.
Nuclear and solar energy are suited with the cogeneration of electricity and heat, and eventually form the core of Saudi Arabia?s energy strategy, added the report.
