Solar and Wind Energy Potential in the Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia
Prof Dr Lekshmi Vijayan Krishna, Dr Fatema Abdulla Al Thalhi

Abstract
The global demand for renewable energy in the recent years is increasing in the context of increasing demand for power as well as the energy security in future. Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight, or solar energy, is a form of clean energy and can be used directly for generating electricity for a variety of commercial and industrial uses. It is the best form of energy from an environmental perspective. The sun's heat also drives the winds, whose energy, is captured with wind turbines and converted in electrical power. The annual growth of power consumption in KSA is estimated to be at 7.5 %. To meet this increasing demands, Saudi Arabia has already started extracting renewable energy from the sun, wind, nuclear and geothermal sources .In this study, we intend to review the possibilities of solar and wind energy sources applicable to Saudi Arabia, specific to the Tabuk region based on its topography and climatic conditions. Solar and wind data for 6 regions in the Tabuk province for a period of 12 months is used in this study. The solar and wind data used is recorded by the Solar and Wind Resource Monitoring Stations of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) program and the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, Saudi Arabi. The seasonal variations in the wind and solar parameters were studied. The wind energy potential for the 6 stations were also calculated. The analysis shows that out of the 6 stations, the coastal station of Haql has got the highest wind potential whereas the inland stations of Tabuk and Timaa has the highest solar power potential.

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