Saudi Aramco has achieved a landmark in green installation by feeding power to the Power Systems (PS) main offices through the company’s first rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation. As the Kingdom’s demand for energy increases, Saudi Aramco has committed itself to an energy efficiency drive pioneered by the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, the government body mandated with the promotion of energy efficiency across the Kingdom. The company aspires to reduce its nonindustrial energy consumption by 35 percent by the year 2020 through the installation of energy efficient LED lights, the testing and installation of solar panels and other renewable energy sources, and the application of new standards and requirements related to thermal insulation in homes and buildings. A Solar Model The solar installation was meant as a test of the performance of the footprint of a commercial rooftop photovoltaic system against energy demand during peak hours in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The operation and maintenance of the photovoltaic solar system was closely monitored. The building chosen for the test was named the Star Building. “Months ago, we opted to have the Star Building as a model in energy efficiency for all major buildings to come,” said Ahmed Morsy, a KAUST graduate who joined Saudi Aramco’s Power Systems team in 2012. “We conducted an energy audit of the building, which set a recommendation for a solution where lighting was changed to efficient LED in renovated wings, and smart meters with sub-metering capabilities were installed to closely monitor consumption.” Building energy audits are being used to identify efficiency opportunities throughout commercial and residential buildings. Environmental Rewards The solar installation consists of 144 PV modules interconnected to the existing electrical system, ensuring the delivery of about 35 kilowatt peak (kWp) of power. Over its lifespan, the project will generate 1.2 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean energy, mostly during peak-demand time of the day, when energy is most needed. This clean energy offsets the energy produced by fossil fuels, thereby saving the Kingdom’s associated oil resources for future use. The project is also Smart Grid compatible, and when connected, will provide enough energy equivalent to light more than 50 homes every year for the next 20 years. The project is also an environmental-friendly construction. The production of 1.2 million kWh of solar energy avoids emission of 900,000 tons of CO2 gases over the life of the project, which is equal to carbon sequestered by 670 acres of trees. “On a grand scale, these efforts are not just about injecting clean energy into the power grid,” said Nour Shihabuddin, an engineer with the Renewables Department who is managing the construction and commissioning of the rooftop installation. “By generating clean energy, we are displacing hydrocarbons that could be better utilized within the Kingdom or even exported, creating greater value for the Kingdom’s economy.” How it Works The technology behind PV systems consists of solar panels that absorb sunlight and directly convert it into Direct Current (DC) electricity. A solar inverter changes the DC to Alternating Current (AC), which is integrated into the building’s main power supply through cabling, smart metering, and other electrical accessories, to cover part of the building load demand. Information and statistics collected through this installation will be used for analyzing performance and planning future projects in the company and/or the Kingdom. The plan is to install monitoring screens within the building lobby, which will display live clean energy production data. The transparency in data visibility is a powerful mechanism that would increase awareness and promote the value and benefits of renewable installations.