In the presence of His Highness the Minister of Energy...the launch of the “ESCO Saudi Arabia 2024” forum in Riyadh amid a large attendance
In the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center “Kafa’a”, and a number of members of the Board of Directors, the “Saudi ESCO 2024” forum for energy efficiency service providers in the Kingdom was launched today, with the aim of improving energy consumption in various commercial and industrial facilities. The Director General of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, Nasser Al-Ghamdi, stressed in a speech he delivered at the opening session of the forum, that the center seeks to be an international reference in the field of energy efficiency, and a model for preserving natural resources to enhance sustainability and economic and social well-being by the year 2030, indicating that this will be achieved thanks to God and then support and the great interest that the state - may God protect it - gives to all sectors, including the energy sector, as well as the great support and care given by His Royal Highness Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Center’s Board of Directors and Minister of Energy. Al-Ghamdi stated that the Center gave the energy efficiency services sector its attention and care, as it sought to create the necessary environment for service providers and beneficiaries in this promising market to ensure the quality of energy efficiency service providers by applying the licensing mechanism for those interested in investing in this field after fulfilling the technical requirements necessary to provide the service, and obtaining investment opportunities available in energy audit projects, rehabilitation projects and raising the efficiency of energy consumption in government and commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. For his part, CEO of the National Energy Efficiency Services Company (Tarsheed), Walid Al-Ghurairi, in his speech at the opening session, highlighted the company’s efforts and contributions in supporting energy efficiency initiatives in the Kingdom, saying: “Since 2017, we have contributed, in cooperation with the Center, to increasing the number of companies working in energy efficiency services to reach 55 licensed companies in the Kingdom to date, including: 41 local companies, in addition to joint efforts to attract 14 international companies, which have become an active partner within our work and projects in rehabilitation and raising energy efficiency in our programs that include the rehabilitation of buildings and public facilities”. “These efforts have resulted in an estimated saving of approximately 7 terawatt-hours until the end of the first quarter of the year 2024”. “Today, Tarsheed confirms its continued endeavor to stimulate the market for emerging energy efficiency services companies in the Kingdom, and to support their participation within the projects launched by Tarsheed in all regions of the Kingdom.” The Director of the General Department of Energy Efficiency Enablers, Engineer Sultan Al-Mutairi, also gave a presentation in which he highlighted the role and efforts of the Center in empowering the energy efficiency services sector in the Kingdom, and the initiatives and capabilities that have been worked on during the past period with the aim of supporting the efforts of the energy efficiency services sector. The opening session witnessed the Center announcing the launch of a number of enabling initiatives to support the energy efficiency services sector in the Kingdom. This was followed by honoring a number of academic bodies and energy service providers licensed by the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center. The honor also included companies that contributed to the pioneering project implemented by the Center for the commercial sector. The session was followed by the opening of the exhibition accompanying the forum, which included a number of companies providing energy efficiency services that obtained a license from the center. These companies presented an overview of their efforts and services to audit energy in facilities, amid a remarkable presence of commercial facility owners and those interested. During the full-day forum, the efforts and initiatives undertaken to empower the energy efficiency services sector in the Kingdom were highlighted, and the opportunities available for energy efficiency projects were reviewed, and the latest practices and experiences in energy efficiency services and technologies, in addition to presenting the success stories that have been achieved in this sector, as well as the various training programs offered in this field.
He stated that holding the Saudi ESCO Forum and the accompanying exhibition comes within the efforts of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center and within the framework of its interest in providing a wide range of initiatives and services that contribute to improving energy consumption, out of the Center’s belief in the importance and role of energy efficiency in reducing carbon emissions, and supporting national efforts and endeavors in dealing with climate change.
The forum targeted energy efficiency service providers licensed in the Kingdom, universities, training centers, and specialized engineers interested in this field. In addition to the owners of commercial establishments such as commercial complexes, hospitals, medical facilities, private schools, hotels, tourist accommodation facilities, and others.