Renewable energy is accepted as a key source for the future, not only for Saudi Arabia, but also for the world. Saudi Arabia has abundant potential for exploiting solar energy, which is renewable, clean, and freely available. The average annual solar radiation falling on the Arabian Peninsula is about 2200 kWh/m2. Applications of solar energy in Saudi Arabia have been growing since 1960. Solar hydrogen production plant situated at the Solar Village, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, could have been considered as the world's first 350 kW solar-powered hydrogen-generation plant at the time of its inception. The development of solar energy, however, has been relatively low due to several obstacles although utilization of solar energy in its various aspects is very attractive for the country. The main objectives of this study are to address current applications and future aspects of solar energy along with studies conducted in this field and to assess them in the light of available sustainable energy technologies towards establishing energy policies. The solar energy-related topics reviewed include various types of solar radiation correlations, exergetic solar radiation, solar collectors, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar stills, solar-powered irrigation, solar energy-related greenhouses, solar hydrogen, solar water desalination and solar energy education. Some barriers, scenarios and constraints are also covered. The utilization of solar energy could cover a significant part of the energy demand in the country. If a major breakthrough is achieved in the field of solar-energy conversion, Saudi Arabia can be a leading producer and exporter of solar energy in the form of electricity. The geographical location of the country, its widespread unused desert land, and year-round clear skies, all make it an excellent candidate for this.

A key review on present status and future directions of solar energy studies and applications in Saudi Arabia

Measurement of solar energy radiation in Abu Dhabi, UAE

The primary goal of this work is to assess the potential of solar energy as an essential future energy source in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. The findings of this study are based on the national energy production and consumption portfolios, detailed quantitative analysis of the solar energy resource, the local operating conditions of solar installations and the current status of technology. This study also offers an extensive literature review on the development of solar energy in the UAE to investigate: (i) methods for evaluating the solar resource, (ii) the effect of the local environmental operating conditions on the performance of different technologies, (iii) strategies for financing projects and encouraging home-owners to install PV, (iv) and benefits of solar energy to the electricity generation, water production and transportation sectors.

Solar energy in the United Arab Emirates: A review

A critical look at recent interpretations of the Ångström approach and its future in global solar radiation prediction

A simple empirical model to calculate solar spectral diffuse and global irradiance under cloudless skies was investigated. This formulation takes into account absorption of radiation by molecules such as O/sub 3/, H/sub 2/O and the uniformly-mixed absorbing gases CO/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/. Attenuation by Rayleigh-scattering and aerosol extinction are included. Aerosol attenuation is calculated through Angstroem's turbidity parameters ..cap alpha.. and ..beta... The diffuse radiation is assumed to be composed of three parts: (1) Rayleigh-scattered diffuse irradiance; (2) aerosol-scattered diffuse irradiance; and (3) irradiance arising out of multiple reflections between the atmosphere and the ground. The global irradiance is the sum of these three components of diffuse irradiance plus the direct irradiance. The input parameters include an extraterrestrial spectrum, zenith angle theta, turbidity coefficient ..beta.., wavelength exponent ..cap alpha.., ground albedo rho/sub g/, water vapor content and ozone content. The model is shown to yield very good results up to air mass two when compared to accurate theoretical calculations. No comparisons with measured spectra are presented because of a lack of accurate specifications of the input parameters. Results are presented to show the effect of variation of certain of the input parameters.

F.F. Zaki

Papers

Assessment of solar radiation models for the Gulf Arabian countries