In the mid-1980s, the annual consumption of coal was around 10 billion metric tons. This figure is projected to soar to 55 billion metric tons by 2025, indicating a significant increase in fossil fuel use. This rapid consumption is likely to exhaust finite resources and exacerbate climate change and global warming. Therefore, efficient utilization of fossil fuels and the development of clean energy sources are crucial to achieving economic progress without causing severe environmental impacts. Solar energy is a promising alternative; the global photovoltaic (PV) industry has been expanding at an average compound annual growth rate of over 35% over the last decade. By the end of 2021, the worldwide PV capacity was estimated at 714 GW. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2021, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial activities rose by about 2.1 gigatons compared to 2020 levels. Fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source, accounting for about 80% of global energy production. Transportation contributes significantly, responsible for 24% of direct carbon dioxide emissions. Additional emissions come from the use of thermal energy in the building and industrial sectors. A critical strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and support the transition to a decarbonized energy system is to increase reliance on renewable energy sources. Energy plays a pivotal role in a country’s economic and socio-economic development, providing a key resource for growth and productivity. Access to electricity is linked to economic opportunities and increased productivity. Consequently, ensuring the availability of sufficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable electricity is vital for sustainable development. Currently, about 14% of the world’s population, approximately 1.06 billion people, lack access to electricity. In Saudi Arabia, electricity consumption has surged over the past decade, with an annual growth rate between 7% and 8%. During the summer, peak electricity demand rose dramatically, nearly doubling (a 93% increase) from 2004 to 2013, reaching a peak of 54 GW. This upward trend continued with an annual growth rate exceeding 6% from 2013 to 2020. To meet this increasing demand, the King Abdullah Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy plans to boost capacity to 120 GW by 2032. The growing electricity demand in Saudi Arabia is largely driven by the country’s varied climate regions, leading to high cooling and heating needs. Cooling accounts for 40% to 71% of energy consumption in villas across these regions, emphasizing the urgency for developing effective energy efficiency measures. Saudi Arabian buildings face substantial challenges, particularly the predominant use of air conditioning (AC) units, which are responsible for up to 70% of electricity usage in residential buildings. Additionally, inadequate insulation in building envelopes, with up to 70% of residential buildings lacking proper thermal insulation, exacerbates energy inefficiency. A government survey revealed that around 60% of summer electricity consumption is attributed to AC systems. The Saudi Ministry of Water and Electricity reported a 35% increase in electricity consumption over the past two decades, primarily due to extensive air conditioning use in the summer. This necessitates urgent measures to rectify energy consumption patterns in residential buildings and transition toward more energy-efficient construction. Energy demand in Saudi Arabia is distributed across residential, commercial, and government sectors, with residential electricity consumption constituting about 49% of the total annual usage. Industry consumes approximately 19%, followed by the commercial and government sectors with 16% and 11%, respectively. Various studies conducted by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) affirm that residential buildings contribute to roughly 50% of the total electricity consumption in the country. The annual average growth rate in total electricity consumption is estimated to range between 5% and 8%, indicating a trajectory where oil production and consumption may reach equilibrium by 2035. Saudi Arabia meets its energy demands primarily through conventional crude oil, heavy crude oil, and gas extraction. The country’s electricity consumption exceeds one-third of its daily oil production, amounting to 11.04 million barrels per day in 2020, marking a decrease from 11.83 million barrels per day in the previous year. The rapid economic growth, population surge, and urban development fueled by crude oil earnings have led to a heightened demand for electricity. A 2016 report on Saudi Arabia’s power market revealed that 40% of electricity was sourced from oil, 50% from natural gas, and the remaining fraction from renewable energy sources. Introducing photovoltaic (PV) technology presents a promising avenue for sustainable development and reduced dependence on fossil fuels in the Middle East. Despite its potential benefits, the widespread adoption of PV systems faces challenges, including substantial initial investment, discouraging building owners and developers. Dust storms and elevated airborne particles in the Middle East result in dust accumulation on PV modules, affecting energy production and increasing maintenance costs. Additionally, harsh weather conditions and high ambient temperatures in the region have detrimental effects on PV system efficiency. Factors such as sandstorms and dust buildup contribute to abrasion and premature degradation of PV modules. The scarcity of skilled labor and the absence of robust regulatory frameworks are barriers to developing and adopting PV technology across many Middle Eastern countries in the building sector. Addressing these challenges requires focused efforts on implementing government incentives and subsidies, promoting local manufacturing of PV components, investing in research and development for enhanced PV efficiency under extreme conditions, and reinforcing policies supporting the integration of PV systems into buildings. In pursuing cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, many countries, including Saudi Arabia, are investing in renewable energy. Solar energy, wind power, hydropower, and biomass are recognized as abundant and environmentally friendly forms of energy within the spectrum of renewable energy sources (RESs). Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology stands out as one of the most promising RESs, with a global installed capacity exceeding 303 GW by the end of 2016. Solar PV technology, harnessing solar energy through directly converting sunlight into electricity, finds diverse applications. Buildings, in particular, have become a successful context for their implementation. Solar PV panels can be integrated into buildings through various methods, including installation on roofs, walls, floors, or window coatings. Although rooftop installations constitute the predominant mode of PV generation in buildings, the technology’s versatility enables applications at various scales, from small-scale installations of a few watts to large-scale projects generating hundreds of megawatts.

في مشهد الطاقة المتطور بسرعة اليوم ، يلعب دمج أنظمة تكنولوجيا المعلومات المتقدمة دورًا محوريًا في نجاح شركات الطاقة الشمسية. تعزز هذه الأنظمة الكفاءة التشغيلية ، وتحسين إدارة الطاقة ، وتسهيل المراقبة في الوقت الفعلي للتركيبات الشمسية. من خلال الاستفادة من تحليلات البيانات المتطورة ، يمكن لشركات الطاقة الشمسية تحليل أنماط إنتاج الطاقة ، والطلب المتوقع ، وتحسين تكامل الشبكة ، مما يضمن استخدام الطاقة بفعالية. علاوة على ذلك ، تتيح أنظمة تكنولوجيا المعلومات التواصل السلس بين مختلف أصحاب المصلحة ، بما في ذلك المهندسين ومديري المشاريع والعملاء ، وتعزيز التعاون والشفافية. على سبيل المثال ، تقوم أنظمة إدارة علاقات العملاء (CRM) بتبسيط التفاعلات مع العملاء ، مما يسمح بالخدمة الشخصية وتحسين رضا العملاء. بالإضافة إلى ذلك ، يتيح استخدام أجهزة Internet of Things (IoT) في الألواح الشمسية المراقبة والصيانة عن بُعد وتقليل تكاليف التوقف والتشغيلية. تعد مقاييس الأمن السيبراني أمرًا بالغ الأهمية أيضًا ، لأنها تحمي البيانات الحساسة وتضمن سلامة أنظمة إدارة الطاقة. علاوة على ذلك ، توفر الحوسبة السحابية موارد قابلة للتطوير لتخزين ومعالجة البيانات ، مما يمكّن الشركات من التكيف بسرعة مع متطلبات السوق المتغيرة. مع استمرار كسب الطاقة المتجددة ، ستكون قوة أنظمة تكنولوجيا المعلومات ضرورية في قيادة الابتكار ، وتحسين الكفاءة ، والانتقال في النهاية نحو مستقبل طاقة أكثر استدامة. من خلال تسخير هذه التقنيات ، لا يمكن لشركات الطاقة الشمسية تعزيز قدراتها التشغيلية فحسب ، بل تساهم أيضًا بشكل كبير في التحول العالمي نحو حلول الطاقة النظيفة. هذا التآزر بينها وبين الطاقة الشمسية سوف يمهد الطريق لأنظمة الطاقة الأكثر ذكاءً والأكثر مرونة التي يمكن أن تواجه تحديات الغد.