Renewable Energy and Saudi Arabia Vision 2030: A Case Study of Masdar City

Abstract

The thesis focuses on renewable energy in Saudi Arabia in the context of Vision 2030, through the International Company for Water and Power Projects (ACWA Power) to reduce oil dependency for revenues and develop a sustainable environment. The vision has set the goal of achieving 50% electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. The Economic and Developmental Affairs Council developed the vision on 25th April 2016 when the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first announced it. The vision aims to increase the Kingdom’s non-oil trade by developing the solar panel market. In chapter two, a literature analysis evaluating the views of various scholars regarding renewable energy in Saudi Arabia is provided and the research adopts the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) and Sustainability theories to focus the research on the theme of sustainability. The thesis is constructed as a policy paper and uses the case of Masdar City and the textual analysis of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) report to evaluate the implementation of the policies within Vision 2030 regarding renewable energy use. In chapter five, a case study and results from a public opinion survey are used to help understand how Saudi Arabia can exploit its renewable energy potential and educate the mass public to support the initiative. As the case study shows, Masdar The city provides a blueprint for a carbon-free environment that upholds all three pillars of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental).