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Solar energy, rather than nuclear, holds promise for Saudi Arabia

The fact is Saudi Arabia can generate enough power form the sun to take care of its and others’ energy needs….Minister of Petroleum, Ali Al-Naimi, said: “Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now.”

Alternatives to nuclear energy under focus – Arab News 7 June 2010, …………..Official studies from the German government has shown that the risk of getting cancer significantly increased in children growing up in the neighborhood of a nuclear power station, particularly leukemia. Other disadvantages have to do with nuclear waste. The EIA has shown that a typical nuclear reactor produces 20-30 tons or waste per year that can’t be disposed of with Plutonium 239 remaining dangerous for as much as 10,000 years and radioactive for 240,000 years. Most countries reuse nuclear waste to create energy but this just creates more waste while others utilize the waste through their national defense departments….

According to Christian Comes, Solar Sales Division, SANYO Component Europe GmbH, Saudi Arabia is missing out on a great opportunity to not only use solar energy as a primary energy source but to profit worldwide from the renewable energy, as well.

“Saudi Arabia has enough sun and space to produce solar electricity to sell. However, due to the previously thought high investment, it has been ignored,” he said, adding that currently this factor is beginning to change. The fact is Saudi Arabia can generate enough power form the sun to take care of its and others’ energy needs. Some of Europe’s biggest corporations such as ABB of Switzerland, Munich Re, Deutsche Bank and Siemens, as well as others have launched a $570 billion solar development program or Desertec, with initial installations to be in Egypt, and North Africa followed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Another power project headed by France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, the Mediterranean Solar Plan, will produce 20GW of power by 2020. These plans are based on the idea that the Middle East and Saudi Arabia can export solar power to Europe. The power is expected to be transported via 20 cables lying beneath the Mediterranean Sea at a cost of $1 billion each.

Last year, Minister of Petroleum, Ali Al-Naimi, said: “Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now.”

Alternatives to nuclear energy under focus – Arab News

June 7, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, Saudi Arabia | antinuclear, energy efficiency, renewable energy, renewables, solar