Saudi Arabia's energy demand will grow at 8 percent annually from the current peak levels of 44,000 MW to triple the current offtake by 2032 at 121,000 MW. The architectural and consumer lighting sectors alone account for nearly a quarter of the power use in the Kingdom, earlier studies said. To cope with this predicted rise in energy demands, the Kingdom plans to increase electricity production capacity by building a series of new plants. Recent reports indicate that the Middle East's largest economy is set to spend close to $100 billion in boosting energy production over the next decade. This includes the construction of new power plants, expansion of existing ones and improving distribution systems across the Kingdom. This investment forms a large chunk of the total $250 billion energy investments planned across the countries of the GCC. The plans include a thermal plant at the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, with a capacity of 850 MW and a cost of $1.5 billion and the Ras Al- Khair point in the eastern region, which will be the site of the world's largest power and desalination project with an estimated cost of about $2.4 billion. Completion of the project is expected by end of 2013. By then, the plant will have a production capacity of 2,800 MW. Industry experts said there is a rising trend toward adopting energy-efficient solutions to lighting, heating and cooling needs in domestic, industrial and public spheres in the Kingdom, as awareness grows about the cost benefits and energy-saving potential offered by modern lighting and HVAC systems. "Given the huge expenditure involved in setting up new energy infrastructure and the rising patterns of energy use among the increasingly prosperous societies in the region, the effective integration of energy-efficient lighting systems along with infrastructural investments can promote sustainable energy use in the future," said Ahmed Pauwels, chief executive officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organizer of the upcoming Light Middle East 2011, which runs from Sept. 12 to 14 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre - the trade event of choice for the Middle East's lighting technology and design industry. "Light Middle East will focus on the current trends and developments across the region and aid industry professionals and authorities to come up with effective solutions for their particular needs. Saudi Arabia, being the largest market in the region, is attracting huge attention from the energy and lighting majors the world over," he added. The region's largest trade event and conference brings together the who's who in the industry and spotlights the latest trends and developments that impact the world of lighting internationally. The conference program, Light Insight Arabia, will focus on intelligent lighting design on Arab projects across the region and is expected to be a key meeting place for architects, lighting consultants, designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and other industry professionals.
