Saudi capital Riyadh could generate 17,500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity a year – 40.7% of its annual consumption – if it put solar panels on 158 sq km of suitable rooftop space identified in a new study.
Researchers from Knight Frank, the University of Leeds and University of Bristol used geospatial modelling to provide the first comprehensive inventory of rooftop solar potential in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
The findings suggest it’s possible to shift focus from big solar farms in the desert to distributed urban installations.
Abu Dhabi’s rooftop solar potential is 42.8 sq km.
The report says using the rooftop space could help Gulf region countries achieve their carbon neutrality targets and present a commercial opportunity for landlords and investors.
‘Not theoretical’
“This is not theoretical; the economics are compelling today,” said Wesley Thomson, a Knight Frank partner and head of ESG in the MENA region.
“Using data from the Kingdom’s Shamsi Solar Calculator, we estimate that rooftop photovoltaic systems in Riyadh now offer a payback period of just 7-11 years.
“Industrial and logistics assets are particularly well suited for this transition, with larger commercial installations achieving payback in as little as seven years due to economies of scale.”
Saudi Arabia has set a target of achieving a 50% renewable energy mix by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2060.
In the last five years it has developed several utility-scale projects – such as Sakaka (300MW), Sudair (1,500MW) and Al Shuaibah (2,600MW) – that Knight Frank says have established benchmarks for cost-competitive solar power that are among the lowest in the world.
Researchers assessed around 870,000 buildings in Riyadh. Half were too small, but large buildings with more than 1,000 sq m of usable space account for 26% of the city’s total roof area.
- Subscribe here to get stories about construction around the world in your inbox three times a week
