| Abstract |
The renewable energy, including geothermal resources, occupies a very advanced rank in the priorities of the Saudi 2030 promised vision document. Some aspect of power generation based on wind and solar renewable resources are now in use, however, the geothermal power plants are not yet installed in Saudi Arabia. It is planned to add 30 gigawatts of generating capacity to the electricity grid and to accommodate all types of energy generations by the end of 2020. According to the 2030 vision of the Saudi Arabia, the country is going to move gradually from depending mainly on fuel energy to renewable and low-carbon forms of energy by the end of the year 2030. So it has become clear that the KSA is moving ahead with investments in renewable energy, nuclear power and other alternatives to fossil fuels so that it could use its vast oil reserves for other goods, such as plastics and polymers. Saudi Arabia is enriched by several types of hydrothermal geothermal resources especially at the western and southwestern parts along the Red Sea coast. Some aspects of low geothermal applications are economically viable in KSA and already in use i.e. swimming pools, refreshment places, and medical purposes. The geothermal potential of the volcanic eruptions at the western of the Saudi Arabian shield ‘or what is called Harrat’ is considered a sizeable opportunity for developing geothermal power as it covers more than 80,000 km2. The high enthalpy resources of Harrat areas can be used for power generation if a good location is selected and more accurate geothermal resource assessment is done. A good occurrence of the high generating granites (Midyan granites) is encountered NW of the Saudi Arabian shield. It is estimated to yield a heat production in the range from 15 to 134 µW/m3. Geothermal energy can be used also for desalination at Saudi Arabia since the current cost of desalinated water, processed through conventional energy source, with subsidy is 0.03 US$/m3 which is less than the average cost in many places in the world (i.e. US$ 6/m3). In general, the future of geothermal renewable energy in Saudi Arabia is promised, however a more detailed geological/geophysical exploration work and resource assessment is needed to better investigating these resources. |