Search

Recent statistics indicate that as of 2023, the global renewable energy capacity has reached new heights, with Saudi Arabia significantly contributing to this growth through its strategic initiatives. The kingdom is particularly focusing on harnessing solar power, given its abundant sunlight, and is also exploring wind energy, leveraging its vast desert landscapes. These efforts are part of Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to become a global leader in renewable energy. This paper provides a detailed exploration of Saudi Arabia's ambitious journey from a fossil-fuel-dominated energy sector to a more sustainable, renewable-energy-driven future. Anchored in the broader context of global energy trends, the study emphasizes the critical shift toward renewable resources, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia's unique position in this global movement. Key to this transition is Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a strategic framework that guides the country's renewable energy policies and initiatives. A comprehensive review of these policies, including other governmental and international collaborations that support renewable energy development, is offered. The current state of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia is assessed, including an overview of existing projects and production statistics. The paper also explores emerging technologies such as energy storage systems and smart grid solutions, emphasizing their role in Saudi Arabia's energy transition. An impact assessment is conducted to understand the environmental, economic, and social effects of this energy shift. The paper also includes a comparative analysis of other countries' renewable energy transitions, extracting lessons and best practices applicable to the Saudi context. Strategic recommendations and reflections on Saudi Arabia's future role in the global energy landscape are provided for stakeholders in energy policy, environmental planning, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating photovoltaic (PV) inverters in power distribution systems via static synchronous compensators (PV-STATCOM) during the nighttime has lately been described as a solution to improve network performance. Hunter prey optimization (HPO) is introduced in this study for efficient PV-STATCOM device allocation in distribution systems. HPO generates numerous scenarios for how animals could act when hunting, some of which have been expanded into stochastic optimization. The PV-STATCOM device allocation issue in distribution networks is structured to simultaneously minimize the electrical energy losses and improve the voltage profile while accounting for variable 24 h loadings. The impacts of varying the number of installed PV-STATCOM devices are investigated in distribution systems. It is tested on two IEEE 33-node and 69-node distribution networks. The effectiveness of the proposed HPO is demonstrated in comparison to the differential evolution (DE) algorithm, particle swarm optimization (PSO), artificial rabbits algorithm (ARA), and golden search optimizer (GSO). The simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed HPO in adequately allocating the PV-STATCOM devices in distribution systems. For the IEEE 33-node distribution network, the energy losses are considerably decreased by 57.77%, and the voltages variance sum is significantly reduced by 42.84%. The energy losses in the IEEE 69-node distribution network decreased by 57.89%, while voltage variations are reduced by 44.69%. Additionally, the suggested HPO is highly consistent than the DE, PSO, ARA, and GSO. Furthermore, throughout the day, the voltage profile at all distribution nodes surpasses the minimum requirement of 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape design of the Tubular Linear Synchronous Motor (TLSM) is a critical engineeri ng optimization problem which was handled as single- and multi-objective optimization frameworks. However, the different practical constraints for the TLSM design must be efficiently guaranteed. This paper proposes a developed multi-objective shape design of the TLSM to maximize the operating force and minimize the flux saturation. In this regard, a Multi-objective Grey Wolf Optimizer (MGWO) is developed, including an outside archive with a predetermined size that is integrated for storing and retrieving Pareto optimal solutions. Using this knowledge, the grey wolf social structure would then be established, and, in the multi-objective searching environments, grey wolf hunting behavior would then be replicated. The superiority and effectiveness of the developed MGWO is assessed in comparison to the Multi-objective Flower Pollination Algorithm (MFPA), Multi-objective Lichtenberg Algorithm (MOLA), and Multi-objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MGOA). The outcomes illustrate that the developed MGWO provides an average improvement of 73.46%, 19.07%, and 15.15% compared to MFPA, MOLA, and MGOA, respectively. The validation of the developed MGWO is extended for a multi-objective form of welded beam design (WBD) by simultaneously minimizing the deflection and the manufacturing costs. Similar findings are obtained with different reference points, the developed MGWO provides an average improvement of 2.8%, 0.7%, and 3.04% compared to MFPA, MOLA, and MGOA, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to uncertain photovoltaic (PV) power generation, analyzing the voltage stability of transmission networks with a large PV plant is challenging. The stability of PV output power is a critical factor in establishing PV penetration levels in active transmission networks when assessing loading capabilities. Therefore, this article contributes to enhancing the understanding of how a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) could be used as part of the power system network. STATCOMs are often used to improve the static and transient voltage, maintain transmission limits, and reduce low-frequency disturbances. With the help of a STATCOM unit, a proper investigation and analysis of dynamic voltage stability in a transmission system are presented. The validity of the study is evaluated by the Saudi Arabia grid code (SAGC). The system being tested is comprised of a 300 MW PV plant in Sakaka, Saudi Arabia, integrated into a 17-bus transmission power network and a STATCOM, which is employed at one of the buses. PSAT software is used to evaluate a number of case studies to determine the transient voltage stability with and without the STATCOM and the PV plant. The simulation findings demonstrate how STATCOM functions to improve the quality of the power system in accordance with the SAGC. In addition, the analysis of voltage stability demonstrates that the power network's resilience to short circuits at the PV system's grid connection point significantly impacts the voltage's dynamic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this work was the maximization of the energy saving of balanced and unbalanced distribution power systems via system reconfiguration and the optimum capacitor's bank choice, which were estimated by using a new algorithm: modified Tabu search and Harper sphere search (MTS-HSSA). The results demonstrated that the proposed method is appropriate for energy saving and improving performance compared with other methods reported in the literature for IEEE 33-bus adopted systems, including large scale systems such as IEEE 119 and the IEEE 123 unbalanced distribution system. Moreover, it can be used for unbalanced distribution systems distributed generators (DGs). The results demonstrated that the proposed method (the optimal choice of shunt capacitor (SC) banks and the optimal reconfiguration via the proposed algorithm) is appropriate for energy saving compared with different strategies for energy saving, which included distributed generation (DG) at different cost levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shunt active power filters (APFs) are used to address power quality issues such as harmonic distortion and power system imbalance. Many control systems for shunt APFs demand measurements of voltages and currents for the determination of instantaneous real and reactive power signals. From these signals, the reference currents of the shunt APF are calculated. A method of control for the APF shunt that only measures currents is proposed in this paper. The control method includes a modified technique to extract the positive and negative sequence components in the time domain. The reference currents in the shunt APF are calculated by the negative sequence components of the measured currents. Simulation and experimental results confirm the efficiency of this control scheme under ideal and non-ideal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]