Saudi Arabia Turns to Sun Power to Desalinate Water

People across the kingdom of Saudi Arabia heavily depend on desalinated water for subsistence. However with rising oil prices the kingdom is now facing a problem.

Why?

Up to now, more than 28 desalination plants in Saudi Arabia depended on fossil fuel (mainly fuel oil) to run the equipment that desalinated sea water and provided the drinking water necessary for the country’s people.

A tremendous amount of oil was used to power these plants: around 1.5 million barrels per day!

However…

The rising oil prices have ensured the increase in price of desalinated water as well.

As a result…

The kingdom is now embarking on a significant change in strategy: the use of solar power to provide the power needed for the plants!

The idea is to save on energy costs and make a contribution towards implementing new environmental policies as well.

As the kingdom now directs its focus towards this renewable source of energy from the sun there is also optimism that one day it could even become an exporter of this clean form of energy like it has been doing with oil for many years!

via: ENN