by Shane Henson — February 13, 2013—Suntech Power, a global developer of solar energy solutions, announced that the largest ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system in Saudi Arabia has been constructed using the company’s solar panels.
The 3.5 megawatt (MW) system is owned by Saudi Aramco and installed on the grounds of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), reportedly the world’s largest energy research center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Utilizing Suntech’s premium solar panels, Phoenix Solar designed and built the 3.5 megawatt system, which is expected to help KAPSARC achieve Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design (LEED) Platinum certification.
The ground-mounted solar field is comprised of 12,684 Suntech panels and covers an area of 55,000 square meters. The grid-connected system is designed to supply 5,800 megawatt hours of electricity per year and to offset roughly 4,900 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, says Suntech. Ron Shen, Suntech’s vice president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, said the project represents an important milestone in the development of the solar industry in Saudi Arabia.
The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) is an independent, international nonprofit institution that focuses on research in energy economics, policy, technology, and the environment. The cellular structure of crystalline forms emerging from the desert landscape in Riyadh was designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Composed of a network of three-dimensional, six-sided cells with many junctions and bonds, its design is based on the concept of connection. The modular, adaptive building is made up of a series of shaded outdoor spaces, courtyards, entrances, meeting areas, indoor gardens, corridors, underground tunnels and roof terraces.
