The Middle East?s energy and utilities sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with the shift towards renewable energy and digital innovation at the heart of ambitious energy diversification programmes
As governments seek to increase energy security and maximise returns from hydrocarbon resources, utilities are pressing ahead with some of the largest renewable energy schemes in the world.
A number of milestones in the push for clean energy across the region were reached in 2019, including the commissioning of the world?s largest single-site photovoltaic (PV) solar plant, the 1.17 GW Sweihan independent power project (IPP) in Abu Dhabi. Shortly after the commissioning of the Sweihan plant in March, neighbouring emirate Dubai reached financial close for a US$4.3bn concentrated solar power (CSP) project, the largest single-site power investment project in the world.
Reducing costs and emissions
With the production of electricity across the region having been predominantly fuelled by oil and gas since the 1970s, utilities are seeking to diversify fuel sources for power generation, with renewables at the core of diversification plans.
While the global targets agreed for reducing carbon emissions at the Paris COP 21 energy conference in 2015 grabbed many headlines around the world, the push for renewables is being facilitated by economics. The drive for clean energy is being driven by the sharp drop in the cost of solar and wind power technologies, with the cost of installing PV solar and wind has fallen by 73 per cent and 80 per cent respectively since 2010.
Much of the fall in the cost of delivering utility-scale renewables plants is being driven by the Middle East and North African utilities, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt all having set records for solar and wind power tariffs since 2015.
Growing opportunities
According to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), 167 GW of renewable energy capacity was installed globally in 2017, accounting for 61 per cent of additional power capacity installed. This was more than double the capacity of new fossil fuel plants, which amounted to 27 per cent.
While the percentage of clean energy installed in the Middle East has to date been more modest, with installed solar and wind accounting for 2,350MW and 434MW respectively of the region?s energy in 2017, regional utilities are pressing ahead with some of the largest clean energy programmes in the world.
Energy and utilities estimate that US$100bn worth of clean energy projects are currently in the project pipeline, with total investment in clean energy to exceed US$300bn by 2050 if the region?s utilities are to meet their ambitious targets.
Saudi Arabia?s target to install 58.7 GW of renewable energy by 2030 will offer some of the most exciting opportunities for regional and international investors and energy firms. The kingdom?s Renewable Project Development Office (Repdo) is planning to launch tenders for the 1.6 GW third round of its National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) by the end of 2019.
The UAE will remain a focal point of the clean energy transition, having set a target of 50 per cent of its energy to be produced by carbon-free sources by 2050. Following the submission of bids in November for the planned 2GW Dhafra solar IPP in Abu Dhabi, the emirate is already working on plans for its next major solar project, PV 3, which is planned 1.5GW-2GW.
In Dubai, a consortium led by Saudi Arabia?s Acwa Power submitted a world-record-low tariff of $1.695 cents a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh) for the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid (MBR) solar development in October. With Dubai having set an even more ambitious target of 75 per cent clean energy by 2050, the emirate will remain a key driver of renewables deployment across the region.
The push to integrate renewables into the region?s energy sector will form a key part of Middle East Energy, the new name for Middle East Electricity, the leading global energy event which has been bringing an international audience together for 44 years. Clean energy will have its own dedicated track at the event, which runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre from March 3-5 2020.
