Saudi Arabia promises 100 percent renewable energy by 2045

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday set its sights on achieving “net-zero” emissions by 2060. In a speech at the Saudi Shura Council, the country’s top advisory body, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the government…

Saudi Arabia promises 100 percent renewable energy by 2045

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday set its sights on achieving “net-zero” emissions by 2060.

In a speech at the Saudi Shura Council, the country’s top advisory body, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the government is committed to working on a plan to shift the country to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

The kingdom announced an electric-only car production plant in late November and is reportedly the world’s largest purchaser of gas-powered cars — a fact made public by the oil-producing kingdom’s transparency campaign.

But Salman said those cars will be replaced in a second phase — the “Green Revolution.” He did not elaborate on how the plan will happen.

The kingdom is focusing on three key pillars, according to Salman: developing a clean energy industry, including wind, solar and nuclear, as well as boosting technology partnerships, and, thirdly, establishing a “harmonious” society with the goal of providing “purposeful” employment for a million citizens over the next 20 years.

“Our dream is an ambitious one — a hundred percent renewable energy in our country. Our job is to achieve this goal,” Salman said.

Amos Tekleman, director of Georgetown University’s Skoloff Centre for Sustainable Development, told USA Today that he considers 2060 a “significant time horizon” to reach the country’s goals.

“Saudi Arabia, globally, and probably in particular the energy sector in Saudi Arabia, will need to invest to transition from fossil fuels to renewables or another source,” Tekleman said. “And of course, there will be a sizable population that will need jobs.”

The crown prince also said Saudi Arabia will continue investing in the oil and gas industry.

“Our target, our goal is to increase oil and gas output by 1 million barrels a day from 2020 to 2050,” Salman said.

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