Where was Saudi Arabia’s first wind turbine installed?
TURAIF — Saudi Arabia's first wind turbine for electricity generation was inaugurated by Saudi Aramco in January 2017 in Turaif, a governorate in the Northern Borders Region.The project marked an early step in the Kingdom's use of wind energy to generate electricity, with the turbine installed to su
TURAIF — Saudi Arabia's first wind turbine for electricity generation was inaugurated by Saudi Aramco in January 2017 in Turaif, a governorate in the Northern Borders Region.The project marked an early step in the Kingdom's use of wind energy to generate electricity, with the turbine installed to supply power to Aramco's petroleum products distribution facility.Saudi Aramco evaluated four potential locations before selecting Turaif for the project.The governorate was chosen for its favorable wind resources, ease of access and availability of connections to the electricity grid, making it suitable for wind-powered electricity generation.The turbine has a maximum generation capacity of 2.75 megawatts.At the time of its inauguration, Aramco estimated that its electricity output would be sufficient to meet the needs of approximately 250 homes.The company also projected that the turbine could save the equivalent of around 19,000 barrels of oil annually by reducing reliance on conventional energy sources.The turbine stands on an 85-meter tower, with a rotor diameter of 120 meters.At their highest point, the blade tips reach approximately 145 meters above ground level.The turbine was also designed with protective specifications suited to the harsh conditions of the desert environment.The turbine was connected to the electricity distribution network serving Aramco's petroleum products distribution facility in Turaif.According to the company, the project was designed to cover the facility's entire electricity demand, with any surplus electricity supplied to the main power grid.