Positive development for solar technology in MENA region

Friday, 13 November 2009

Solar energy gains importance in Middle East and Northern Africa. Apricum´s Managing Partner Nikolai Dobrott states in his speech at a solar conference in Oman: “The Mena region, which means countries of the Middle East and Northern Africa, discover the economic potential of their given solar resources.”

The “Conference on Solar Technology,” held on the 3^rd of November 2009, was organized by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in cooperation with the German Industry & Commerce Office in Oman. The Sultanate of Oman is one of the most promising solar markets in the region. Oman not only has abundant sunlight, but it also has a sophisticated energy sector because of its oil & gas industries.

His Excellency Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib bin Taimur Al Said, patron of the Environment Society of Oman and Chairman of the conference stated, “We are now having a green party, but what we need is a green revolution. Countries in the Middle East, including the Sultanate must focus on renewable energies such as solar and promote renewable energy resources across the country.”

Other heads of government from MENA have made similar statements recently suggesting that countries across the region are increasing their solar energy activities. Turkey, for example, is currently discussing political mechanisms to increase solar energy in its future energy mix. Morocco plans to develop 2,000 MW of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) projects. Even Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, announced plans to introduce government-supported programs to establish a national solar industry. Saudi Arabia also launched a Solar Energy Research Centre at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Projects such as Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s landmark zero-carbon city now under construction, may soon become one of many high-profile Cleantech projects in the Mena region.

Said Apricum’s Dobrott, “Solar technology can help the region solve its national challenges: meeting their rising energy demands, finding alternatives for declining domestic oil and gas reserves, becoming less dependent on imports of fossil fuels for energy, reducing carbon emissions, establishing a reliable electricity supply, and creating a domestic renewable energy industry with thousands of new jobs.”

Dobrott lists their advantages: “With their high irradiation levels and enormous areas of land the MENA countries can produce not just sufficient energy for their own needs but a surplus, enabling them to export and sell solar electricity. The whole Desertec concept is based on this principle.”