Clean Energy Growing in the Middle East

I found an interesting article online at (Link). The article confirms as I mentioned in a previous blog that Saudi Arabia is planning to secure 41 GW of Solar Energy by 2032. Highlighting that otherwise continued reliance on Oil for Power generation will limit the Kingdom’s Oil export capacity.

Also, noteworthy in the article was Iran’s plans to develop a 5MW pilot plant for geothermal energy and its intention to add 12,000 MW of renewable energy to its power capacity.

The article also mentions that Qatar Solar Technologies plans to build a $1 billion silicon plant in Qatar to supply the material to manufactures of solar panels. In addition, Qatar Electricity and Water Co. wants to get 10 percent of its electricity from solar by 2018.

The article also mentions Petra Solar and First Solar as companies targeting the Middle Eastern Renewable market. It will be interesting to see who the foreign solar companies will choose to strike their strategic partnerships in the region.

Solar Energy in Bahrain

Bahrain's National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) is implementing a 5 MW solar capacity into a wireless smart grid network at Awali area. This project is being implemented in co-operation with Petra Solar, Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Caspian Energy Holdings.

The system to be developed by Petra Solar will tie directly into the grid without requiring an upgrade to current transmission or distribution infrastructure, eliminating many of the grid interconnection issues and additional costs faced by traditional solar systems.

It is encouraging to see Bahrain venture into Solar power and it will be very interesting to see how Petra Solar will integrate renewable energy into the existing power grid.

KACARE leading Saudi Arabia's push for Renewable Energy

In a recent conferece in Riyadh (9 May 2012). The Deputy President of the King Abdullah Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) announced that they plan to make a major shift in the Kingdom's energy mix.

In the recent years the Kingdom's domestic energy demand has been growing at a very fast rate. In 2011, Saudi burned 730,000 barrels of crude oil per day to cover its domestic needs and since crude is heavily subsidized domestically this represent a significant loss for Saudi from potential sale to export markets. A loss which will only increase with increasing energy demand.

When considering this perspective, Renewable Energy makes very good economic sense for the Kingdom, as the high cost of Renewable Energies could be off-set against higher real market value of domestic subsidized fuel consumed.

KA-CARE mentioned that it aims to build 16 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 25 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) by 2032. It sighted that CSP was more expensive than PV but favored CSP for it storage capabilities. It was also mentioned that Geothemal and waste-to-energy could amount to 4 GW.

These plans have been submitted to the KA-CARE Board of Directors for approval which includes representatives from the highest authorities in the country. If indeed approved this would be a very exciting developing for Saudi Arabia.

When will the Solar revolution start?

There has always been a lot of hype and enthusiasm in the pursuit of Solar Energy. I find many initiatives dating far back promising unlimited clean energy from the Sun.

The earliest reference I can find from 1928 is the "Sahara Green" initiative (http://desertec-mediterranee.over-blog.com/) which envisaged turning the Sahara desert into green fields by using solar power to desalinate seawater and grow vegetation in the Sahara desert.

In the following decades every time there is an energy crises we see the world economy briefly putting focus on renewable energy only for them to quickly shift away once the crises is over.

Now again in the last few years we do see a renewed interest in renewables, although it seems this is partially driven by the dramatic raise in oil prices in 2008, this time the raise in interest in renewables could be different.

For example the "desert-tech" initative is receiving very strong backing from multiple international organizations. The oil rich Gulf countries have also started instigating their own renewable energy programs. Many countries have also reached consensus form the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Perhaps this time there is a real realization by the world community that oil prices will probably never go back to the prices of the previous decade. Although this will put pressure on the world economy it could at least offer hope for a sustained interest into renewable energy to help progress its development.

Welcome to Middle East Renewable Energy

Welcome to my blog.... Over the past few years it has become much more evident that climate change is indeed occurring and most of the scientific evidence points toward the raise in CO2 emissions due to human activities as the main reason for this raise.

Add to that, everybody acknowledges the finite nature of our fossil fuels, and despite the contradictions and views on how much reserve remains the fact is that it will run out sooner or later.... This alone emphasis the importance of preserving our fossil fuel (hydrocarbons) for use in applications that only they can fulfill rather than burning them as fuels. 

While preservation is important, many scientists believe that the sever impacts of climate change could well occur long before fossil fuels actually run out.

However, perhaps the biggest dangers from fossil fuels lay in how heavy dependent we have become on them for our Electricity, Water, Food, accommodation, transport, health .....etc. 

For these reasons, I have have always had a keen interest into the subject of Renewable Energy. I strongly believe that how we source our future energy is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity in this age and will a big factor in the long term prosperity of humanity.

Most of the Middle East is blessed with an abundance of these fossil fuels comprising the largest known fossil fuel reserves the world. The Middle East has enough energy to supply its own needs and export to the rest of the world.

Moreover, the region has abundant access to the original source of all energy on Earth "the Sun".

With wealth generated by fossil fuel and the availability of abundant sunlight this region has a unique opportunity to take advantage and look towards building a better future by supplying the world with energy long after the end of fossil fuels.

On this blog I hope to keep track of Renewable Energy developments with specific focus on the Middle East and the GCC. I hope you join me and look forward to your feedback.