RIYADH: The Kingdom will next Sunday begin receiving applications to install solar cells, with the Saudi Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority allowing international companies to register for the project’s auction.
The initiative for using the new technology falls into “The Kingdom’s Vision 2030” that supports the use of solar energy in the Kingdom, relying less on oil, and giving consumers the opportunity to generate power and export the surplus energy to the national grid.
Abdullah Al-Shehry, governor of the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, told Aleqtesadiah that “using solar energy will be optional” and clarified that the authority adopted regulations for the uses of solar energy titled “Small-scale Solar Energy Systems.”
Al-Shehry stressed that this opportunity to install solar cells is available to both local and international companies, provided that they obtain a qualification certificate from the Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC).
He further noted that the solar energy project will start being implemented by the middle of next year, allowing consumers to export the redundant energy to the national grid at a price to be set by the network each year, or to be deducted from their electricity bills.
A team of experts is developing the regulations and necessary technical designs to launch the project.
The submission of initial online applications will start next Sunday to limit the number of subscribers, and to be able to study the demand, the potential produced energy, and its impact on the national grid.
Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Beeshi, head of distribution services and leader of the initiative of the solar energy shift at the SEC, pointed out in a previous report that the qualified subscribers can submit a final application to install and connect the small-scale photovoltaic solar energy systems to the national grid on July 1, 2018.
He added that the necessary details, instructions, procedures and examples regarding the applications will be posted on SEC’s official site to make it easier for subscribers, he added.
Saudi Arabia to allow international companies to install solar cells for power subscribers
Saudi Arabia to allow international companies to install solar cells for power subscribers
Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes draws nature lovers, adventure seekers
- Winter destination witnesses growing influx of visitors
RIYADH: Al-Baha’s Nawan Dunes, a winter destination promising adventure and nature, is offering visitors a distinctive tourism experience that blends tranquility with beauty.
The site, in Al-Makhwah Governorate, is among the most prominent natural attractions in the Al-Baha region and is distinguished by unique sand formations that stretch across vast areas, offering visitors a distinctive tourism experience.
The dunes are witnessing a growing influx of visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, and photography lovers, due to the region’s mild winter weather, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The rolling golden sands provide an ideal destination for camping enthusiasts, desert adventures, and various outdoor recreational activities, particularly during twilight and sunset when the landscape takes on a striking aesthetic appeal.
The Nawan Dunes is now a breathtaking canvas of natural beauty. Recent rainfall has allowed wild plants to flourish spectacularly and this creates a stunning spectacle for all nature lovers.
As part of efforts to diversify tourism experiences, the Nawan Dunes has also hosted paragliding, attracting adventure seekers and aerial sports enthusiasts.
This has offered visitors a unique opportunity to view the desert landscape from the air and enjoy panoramic views of the dunes and surrounding nature, all within a well-organized framework that prioritizes safety and enhances the site’s appeal.
These events and initiatives form part of Al-Baha's winter program, which aims to diversify tourism options, invest in natural assets, and strengthen the area’s position as an attractive winter tourism destination in the Kingdom.
Fahd Muftah Al-Zahrani, the director general at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Al-Baha, said that two contracts had been signed to further ecotourism in the region.
