UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030
The UAE could economically deploy solar power generation capacity of more than 20GW by 2030 if avoided and opportunity costs of new fossil power generation are fully considered and transparent, stable, predictable and enforceable regulatory and policy frameworks are implemented, said a senior industry expert.
Steve Griffiths, executive director, Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, indicated that by 2017, the MENA region might require more than 120GW in new generation capacity at a total cost of over $ 250 billion in order to meet the rapid growth in regional electricity demand.
He said sustainable energy is economically viable but can only be implemented if robust supplyside and demand-side policies are implemented to stimulate deployment.
Griffiths was speaking at the 5th Middle East & North Africa Solar Conference & Expo (MENASOL 2013) in Dubai.
He is also a board member, Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA).
A plenary panel of experts analyzed the prospects of concentrated solar power (CSP), photovoltaics (PV), and concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) in the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa region. Nearly 300 delegates attended the event that was orga-
A plenary panel of experts analyzed the prospects of concentrated solar power (CSP), photovoltaics (PV), and concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) in the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.
nized by CSP Today, part of FC Business Intelligence. ESIA was one of the sponsors. Griffiths said: “A sustainable energy strategy considering both demand and supply side considerations will be required for the MENA region.” He said clean energy including natural gas, nuclear and renewables will play an important role in sustainable supply. “However, there is significant but unrealized opportunity for solar,” he said.
Griffiths said: “The UAE and other Gulf countries have solar insolation levels that far exceed levels found in European countries, such as Germany, that already have achieved substantial solar deployment.”
He, however, said there is a strong need to translate technical potentials to economic benefits to guide solar energy policy development that will stimulate solar energy technology deployment.
“This may call for site-specific, long-term data with high spatial resolution, adjusted for local climate conditions. The UAE Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment (ReCREMA) at Masdar Institute can offer guidance in this area,” he said.
The conference generated a great deal of interest in the work being done at ReCREMA, which is directed by Dr. Hosni Ghedra, because the bankability of solar projects in the region critically depends on accurate solar resource data.
The center has played a critical role in the development of the Global Solar Atlas, which is led by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and involves other global stakeholders.