The GCC is likely to speed up its solar energy conversion movement, reaching its 2030 target of a collective 4.6 GW photovoltaic (PV) in power generation to emerge as a global renewables leader, according to Turkish solar power structure supplier, Tekom-Puk
Tekom-Puk?s forecast is backed up by the latest MENA Power Industry Outlook prepared by Ventures Onsite, for the Middle East Electricity.
Speaking ahead of Tekom-Puk?s participation at Middle East Electricity 2019, the region?s power industry show, which is scheduled to run at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 5-7 March 2019, Murad Sayg?n, general manager of Tekom-Puk, said that the GCC?s solar sector is all set to scale up further.
?Being highly oil-dependent economies, the GCC countries have been strongly impacted by the recent oil price drop. To counter this, we believe they?ll focus on investments in the renewables industry more than ever for upcoming years. It?s a constantly growing sector with highly promising potential. The UAE, in particular, will take action to focus growth from public to private sector, so that investors, developers and suppliers from the renewables industry will handle their projects without any time-consuming procedures,? Sayg?n added.
?It forms a lucrative option for electricity generation capacity in the GCC, which has reached US$2.1bn in 2018 and is expected to be worth US$25bn in 2022,? stated the report, citing increasing renewable deployment among the region?s policymakers, regulators and operators. The report further adds that the GCC?s cumulative deployment and investment in renewables could reach US$16bn in 2020.
With all GCC countries now prioritising renewables, the UAE currently leads the way courtesy of mega projects such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, which is worth an estimated US$968mn and the 1.2GW Adwea Sweihan plant in Abu Dhabi. As part of its ?Energy Strategy 2050?, the UAE aims to generate 44 per cent of its electricity from renewables by the middle of the century.
?The UAE?s ministry of energy is considering tendering 1,000MW of renewable-based mega-projects each year over the next few years to meet its energy targets. The expected increase in electricity consumption in the coming years, coupled with the integration of a large share of renewables, clean coal, nuclear and waste-to-energy in its energy mix is expected to project the UAE as a hotspot for power sector development in the Gulf region,? said MENA Power Industry Outlook report.
Furthering its ambitions, the UAE has launched a lab to test artificial intelligence techniques for solar power. The Emirate?s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in collaboration with Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KUST) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), are now working to identify solar energy locations. The lab will have three main systems featuring real-time maps of solar locations in the UAE such as solar simulation, environmental monitoring and marine environment monitoring systems. Solar maps and simulations are likely to help determine the best locations for solar power within the country.
?The huge potential of the GCC, which is expected to require power infrastructure investment totalling US$109bn over the next five years, is generating unprecedented interest in the regional market which is reflected in Middle East Electricity?s high calibre and wide geographic exhibitor spread,? said Claudia Konieczna, exhibition director ? Informa Industrial Group, which organises the the event.
Solar will also feature heavily in the comprehensive knowledge programme Informa Exhibitions is mounting to coincide with Middle East Electricity, including the much-anticipated Intersolar Conference.
Middle East Electricity will also focus on other sectors including power generation, transmission and distribution, lighting and energy storage and management. The show will also offer a diverse range of professional education and training opportunities where attendees can learn about the latest technologies at exhibitor-led Technical Seminars and advance professionally with CPD accredited Workshops.
