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Sunrise Arabia: Clean Energy Conference

January 31, 2024

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Saudi Arabia

Combining long-term market expertise and forces together, pv magazine and Solarabic have shaped a brand-new event in the Saudi energy landscape – SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference.

The new annual event is intended to identify the paths toward a sustainable, clean energy future in Saudi Arabia by fostering dialogue and innovation in the field.

In a world striving for energy sustainability, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a pioneering force, embracing the boundless potential of solar energy. This conference is a testament to the Kingdom’s commitment to harnessing the power of the sun and transforming it into a driving force for economic growth, environmental stewardship, and technological advancement.

The premier 1-day event was held on 31 January 2024, at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Saudi Arabia, and saw the participation of both domestic and international players, as well as that of government-run entities and agencies active in the development of renewable energies.

What to Expect:

• Keynote Speakers: Renowned global experts will share their wisdom and insights on solar power trends.
• Exhibition Space: Explore cutting-edge technologies and solutions from leading companies in the solar sector.
• Policy Updates: Given the importance of government policies in the renewable energy sector, expect sessions that discuss the latest policies, incentives, and regulations related to solar energy in Saudi Arabia.
• Case Studies: Attendees can expect presentations and discussions on real-world projects and case studies.
• Collaboration Opportunities: Explore collaboration opportunities, research partnerships, or business ventures in the field of solar energy.

January 30, 2024

Evening get-together

An informal evening Get-together reception with drinks and food in a pleasant atmosphere. This is an opportunity for professionals to connect with local and international companies in the energy industry and make valuable business contacts.

January 31, 2024

The conference program

After our Opening reception and Keynotes from essential representatives of the Saudi Arabian market, we dive into the following four sessions:

Session 1 | Market perspectives and opportunities in the Saudi PV market

Although it is potential remains largely untapped, the Saudi PV market has already shown great fundamentals and unmatched dynamism, especially in the large scale PV business, where huge projects are being developed and built, and record low prices were achieved.

In this session, experts and analysts from local and international companies discuss the perspectives of this segment and the challenges that must still be addressed to further reduce prices and foster innovation.

Key points of the session:

• Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in Saudi Arabia
• PV and storage in the SA energy market
• Direct and indirect incentives
• Future policies
• Renewable energy targets
• PV for energy exports

Session 2 | Solar techs for the desert

The construction of a PV project in Saudi Arabia, regardless of the size, requires an attentive analysis of the components to be used, as these would have to endure high temperatures and significant levels of soiling.

In this session, we discuss with industry experts and representatives of manufacturers the importance of choosing highly reliable products when operating in the Saudi market, as well as how to better procure these products.

Key points of the session:

• Potential new factories in SA
• Local content requirements
• Next-generation product (tandem perovskite-silicon)
• Competition of mainstream technologies PERC, TOPCon, xBC, HTJ
• Localizing inverter production
• Testing and certification

Session 3 | PV plant development and construction in Saudi Arabia, EPC Innovations, and beyond

The construction of large-scale solar parks in Saudi Arabia is setting standards for the global PV community and the entire world, with the most important EPC contractors competing to achieve the best-performing projects.

In this session, representatives of EPC companies, project developers, and investment firms discuss the best construction practices, as well as the challenges in building solar plants in difficult environmental conditions.

Key points of the session:

• Land acquisition, lease
• Central vs string inverters in large scale PV
• Grid connection issues
• Environmental factors
• Cleaning operations

Session 4 | Linking to storage, hydrogen, CPS

Saudi Arabia has the chance to turn itself into an innovation hub for all those clean energy technologies that are somehow solar-related.

In this session, we seek to ascertain if the Saudi market can be home to ambitious green hydrogen projects or innovative hybrid storage configurations. We also discuss if the CSP (concentrated solar power) technology has the potential to challenge the primacy of PV or if it may be used in complementarity.

Key points of the session:

• Competition between green and grey/blue hydrogen
• Costs of hydrogen
• Revival of CPS and competition or complementarity with PV
• Large-scale and small-scale batteries; feasibility, prices, and technology
• Neom
• Hybridizing PV with HVAC

Confirmed expert speakers

Download SunRise Arabia 2024 Key Takeaways