The first Saudi Arabian solar power plan was inaugurated on October 1 as the country looks to continue to draw from new energy sources.

The 500-kilowatt plant is located on Farasan Island and will look to save the equivalent of 28,000 barrels of diesel fuel annually, according to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia's information office.

"Saudi Arabia is committed to building and refining alternative energy solutions," said Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. "This program is one large step that will benefit the environment and the Saudi people."

The plan was constructed by Saudi Electric Company and Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., a Japanese energy company partially owned by Saudi Arabian Oil Company. The new plant is one of the SEC's initiative to get clean energy into Saudi Arabia.

The location of the solar power plant is used because of its year round sunshine, which emits about 7,000 watts of energy per square meter over an average of 12 hours per day, according to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia.