- Business Secretary met with Chairman of Saudi
Space Commission and Minister of Communications and Information
Technology, His Excellency Abdullah Al-Swaha in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia (KSA)
- the Ministers discussed UK and KSA collaboration in space,
including a potential joint investment in space based solar power
that could help unlock significant commercial opportunities for
British businesses
- builds on a long-standing bilateral relationship between the
UK and Saudi Arabia based on trade, investment, defence, security
and energy
The UK and Saudi Arabian governments discussed ambitious plans
yesterday (Thursday 12 January), for collaboration in space and
innovation, including the potential to invest in the development
of space based solar power.
Business Secretary met with His Excellency
(HE) Abdullah Al-Swaha, the
Saudi Arabian Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission and Minister
of Communications and Information Technology this week, to
discuss the potential agreement that could help unlock
significant commercial opportunities for British
businesses.
A collaboration between UK company Space Solar Ltd, and NEOM - a
new Saudi city being built in the Tabuk Province to incorporate
smart city innovations, world-class technology and data
intelligence - could see each nation committing significant
investment into developing space based solar power (SBSP) in the coming years.
SBSP sees solar
energy collected using a very large satellite in geo-stationary
orbit with solar panels, and beaming the energy to a fixed point
on earth using radio technology. Its main advantages over wind
and terrestrial solar energy are the ability to deliver clean
energy, day and night, throughout the year, and through all
weather conditions. Interest in the technology has grown in
recent years as costs fall rapidly.
Early UK investment could leverage significant private
investment, and development of SBSP in the UK could provide
substantial benefit to the domestic space and technology sectors,
through the creation of valuable intellectual property, jobs and
industrial contracts.This collaboration on space follows
extensive backing for the space sector from the Business
Secretary.
Business Secretary said:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on an ambitious journey to
modernise its economy and society, which opens up a host of
opportunities for burgeoning British businesses, exporting UK
expertise that could transform global access to renewable energy,
including space based solar power.
Collaboration on a global scale is an essential part of realising
the UK’s ambitions in science and innovation, which is why I am
excited to be here in the Gulf – where we are now playing an
integral role in influencing energy transition plans – to develop
our bilateral relationship with a state so open to business, and
with aspirations so grand.
The UK already has strong and significant links with both Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – with SABIC (Saudi Basic
Industries Corporation) and Alfanar committing to investing a
combined total of £1.85 billion into decarbonisation and clean
energy technology in Teesside.
The UK and Saudi Arabia have a long-standing bilateral
relationship based on trade, investment, defence, security and
energy, and we intend to maintain our relationship with the
country on the grounds of vital national security and economic
interests.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ shows encouraging signs of change –
as well as social reform and improved human rights, it is full of
opportunity for the UK economy, with possibilities for space
based solar collaboration being just one example.
Any future funding in collaboration with Saudi Arabia will be
subject to value-for-money analysis and investment security
scrutiny.
