17 FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT
POWERING THE KINGDOM’S WIND ENERGY FUTURE Research at KAUST is guiding the Kingdom’s 2030 wind energy infrastructure rollout
MARC GENTON Distinguished Professor of Statistics
THE KINGDOM IS WELL POSITIONED TO BECOME
Saudi Arabia has an ambitious renewable energy development agenda, in which wind power is slated to play a key role. By 2030, the Kingdom aims to have 50% of its electricity grid powered by renewables, including 16 gigawatts of wind capacity. To put that goal into perspective, as of June 2020, the country had 2.5 megawatts of operational wind power installed. Reaching this ambitious 2030 target requires reliable models and forecasts that can predict how wind speed and direction are likely to vary over time and space. Researchers in KAUST’s Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division have been helping the Kingdom to develop an efficient and cost-effective wind energy strategy. A five-year study of wind energy potential in Saudi Arabia, led by Distinguished Professor of Statistics Marc Genton, has culminated in a comprehensive blueprint for advancing the Kingdom’s national wind energy strategy. In collaboration with researchers from the University of Notre Dame, Professor Genton’s team developed a novel methodology and high-resolution wind simulations calibrated by in situ observations to guide the optimal buildout of wind turbines. These new data can be used to select optimal sites for the construction of wind farms, and the most suitable combination of wind turbine models and hub heights across the Kingdom. Coastal areas along the Gulf of Aqaba, in the north-western part of the country, offer highly cost-effective wind resource potential. This region is currently of particular interest because of the rapidly developing NEOM project, an envisioned new sustainable city that is intended to be served entirely by renewable energy. Importantly, the team’s new study can help the government close the gap between vision and implementation. With more accurate models of wind patterns, government stakeholders can make informed decisions about feasibility before investing in projects. This novel investigation showed that the greatest wind power is attainable at night for the proposed buildout, whereas solar power peaks during the day. These diurnal variations could complement each other if both wind and solar systems are effectively integrated. Looking ahead, Professor Genton and his team believe Saudi Arabia could become a role model for efficient wind power in the Middle East.
A ROLE MODEL FOR WIND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE MIDDLE EAST. I’M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO HELP SAUDI ARABIA IN THIS ECONOMIC TRANSITION.
KING ABDULLAH PETROLEUM STUDIES AND RESEARCH CENTER “KAUST’s novel work provides critical data and insights into the performance and location of wind farms, in addition to developing key inputs for future studies to further understand the role of wind.” Frank A. Felder, Director of the Energy Transitions and Electric Power Program at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center
