Saudi's Going Solar

DHAHRAN: A prominent expert in the field of renewable energy technology has called on Saudi Arabia to invest heavily in solar technology. Professor Ali Sayigh, director general of the UK-based World Renewable Energy Network, was speaking at a public lecture on solar energy organized by the Center of Research for Excellence in Renewable Energy at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).
“Saudi Arabia has the resources to allocate substantial funds for research in this particular field. Keep oil under ground or maybe use it for better purposes, such as for producing medicines or chemicals. There is no point in burning it all up,” he said. “Just as you have a basket of currencies, have a basket of energies: Oil, gas and renewables. There is no harm in that.”
Sayigh lamented the fact that Saudi Arabia was spending “not more than $10 million” on solar energy research. “Abu Dhabi is spending $13 billion through the Masdar Initiative. The American government is spending $450 million. The American private sector is spending more than $2 billion. Europe is similarly spending in billions, not millions.” Read more of this article: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=131387&d=18&m=1&y=2010&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom