The Middle East, traditionally known for its oil wealth, is undergoing a significant energy transition, with several countries investing heavily in solar energy.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is leading the way, with a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and investing $163.5 billion in clean energy projects by 2050.

The UAE is also hosting the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, in 2023, which will focus on climate change and energy transition.

Other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, are also making significant investments in solar energy, with a target to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Egypt is also investing heavily in renewable energy, with a goal to reach 42% renewable electricity by 2035 and a current solar capacity of 1.59 GW.

The region's solar capacity is expected to continue to grow, with a predicted increase of 12.8% in 2022.

Government incentives, such as the UAE's Climate Neutrality Strategy 2050 and Egypt's Renewable Energy Feed Tariff program, are driving investment in solar energy [2].

The energy transition in the Middle East is not only crucial for reducing carbon emissions but also for diversifying the region's economies and reducing dependence on oil.

The region's oil revenues are still crucial to their economies, but the shift towards renewable energy is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy.

Overall, the Middle East is making significant progress in its energy transition, with solar energy playing a key role in reducing carbon emissions and driving economic growth.

The Middle East, traditionally known for its oil wealth, is undergoing a significant energy transition, with several countries investing heavily in solar energy.

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Content: Monday 26th September 2022 Abu Dhabi UAE
Prayer times
Today 's Issue
Today 's Issue
United Arab Emirates
TRENDS Conference: Middle East Security and Climate Change Challenges
TRENDS Conference: Middle East Security and Climate Change Challenges
September 26, 2022 02: 56
Abu Dhabi (Union)
With the participation of Al-Ittihad newspaper and in cooperation with the Atlantic Council, TRENDS Research and Consulting Center is organizing its second annual conference, entitled “Sustainable Security in the Middle East: Challenges and Prospects of Climate Change ”, at the Council ’ s headquarters in Washington, DC, with the participation of four ministers and about 30 speakers from important political figures and experts from different countries of the world.
The conference aims to highlight climate change as a global crisis that requires new approaches and joint steps to address the consequences, while at the same time providing innovative solutions in all sectors in which climate diplomacy plays a pivotal role for a better future for the Middle East and the whole world.
This year ’ s conference will discuss climate action in the region, explore environmental challenges and opportunities, and showcase ambitious solutions.
The two-day sessions will also provide unique perspectives focusing on climate resilience, the transition to a low-emission economy, and collaboration to solve pressing challenges.
The conference aims to draw insights from experts and practitioners from within and outside the region to formulate recommendations for policymakers.
Keyword
Keynote addresses will be delivered by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance; Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief Executive Officer of the UAE Independent Climate Action Accelerators Project; H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change; H.E. Maryam Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and David Livingstone, Senior Advisor to the US Presidential Special Envoy.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research and Consulting Center, said that the second annual TRENDS conference, which coincides with the Center ’ s celebrations of its eighth anniversary, with its participation of experts and thinkers, will certainly be an important opportunity to present ideas and perceptions that help support regional and international efforts to address the threat of global warming. In order to overcome them and achieve the desired goals, especially in the field of achieving sustainable environmental security, in the Middle East region.
Dr. Al-Ali stressed that TRENDS aims to organize its second annual conference “Sustainable Security in the Middle East: Challenges and Prospects of Climate Change ”, in cooperation with the Atlantic Council, to be a bridge of knowledge and academic communication linking the most important think tanks and studies at the regional and international levels. About 30 speakers were important political figures and experts from around the world.
Regional focus
Hamad Al Kaabi, Editor-in-Chief of the Union, stressed that the media is a key partner in raising awareness of the importance of addressing climate change, which is no longer a future threat but a daily challenge facing all the world ’ s population and all countries.
Al-Kaabi, who will present a paper at the conference on “The role of media in supporting green security initiatives, ” said that the region is now the focus of the world ’ s attention as it hosts Cop27 events in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh from November 8 to 18, and the United Arab Emirates hosts Cop28 events in the city of « Expo Dubai » in November 2023.
It has become clear that climate change has become a file that requires regional cooperation, as well as concerted global efforts to curb climate change, protect sustainable development plans, and maintain the development and prosperity paths in the Middle East.
The conference will begin with an opening speech by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, while the keynote speech will be delivered by David Livingstone, Senior Advisor to the US Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Affairs.
Security and Climate Change
The first day will also feature a welcome speech by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Center, and Mr. Jonathan Panikov, Director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, Middle East Programs, Atlantic Council.
The first session of the conference will discuss the topic of national security, climate change and the Middle East: current challenges and future prospects, highlighting the perspective of climate change and national security in the region and their implications for the Middle East and the stability of the region, environmental changes and the effects of global warming on public health, the link between extreme natural phenomena and increased migration flows, and climate change as a geopolitical challenge: adaptation and resilient development.
The session will be moderated by Reina Nainan, Senior Non-Resident Researcher at the Adrian Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, and the co-founder ’ s CEO, News3 Dow.
Scarcity of resources
The second session will address the impacts of resource scarcity and population growth in the Middle East.
The effects of the war in Ukraine are discussed in the Middle East's main agricultural imports, such as wheat.
As well as the challenges facing the region in terms of high demand for food and water, especially in light of the expected increase in the region ’ s population, future prospects and implications of population growth and drought on the infrastructure of food and water systems, the strategic importance of water and the growing concept of cross-border water conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, the impact of climate change on supply chains, regional food security strategies and the effects of the war in Ukraine.
The session will be moderated by Dr. Christian Alexander, Head of Strategic Studies at Trends.
Clean energy
The third session of the first day of the conference will begin in the afternoon US time with a keynote address by H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change.
The session will then address energy industries, infrastructure and politics in the Middle East: opportunities and challenges of the transition to clean energy, and will discuss the transition to an energy system in which environmentally friendly technologies and the potential of sustainable clean energy sources play an increasingly important role.
In addition to the role of industrial partnerships in the transition to safe and low-carbon energy systems, the transformations of key high-energy industries in pursuit of sustainability objectives, the impact of increased regional gas supplies to Europe (in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine) on the rapid transition to wind, solar and hydrogen, the challenges of energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa, and the impact of renewable energy generation on urban infrastructure, transportation systems and electricity grids.
The session will be moderated by Dan Murphy, CNBC's Middle East anchor and correspondent.
Climate Diplomacy
The second day of the second annual TRENDS conference in Washington will begin with an opening speech by Her Excellency Maryam Bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, followed by the fourth session of the conference entitled between COP27 and COP28: Middle East Diplomatic Efforts to Address Climate Change.
The session will address the role of climate summits in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy and highlight the importance of geopolitical factors related to climate diplomacy, as well as new visions for building a sustainable environmental framework, assessing the commitments and commitments made at COP26, and climate diplomacy as a growing foreign policy challenge.
The title is divided into two themes: COP27 and COP28, which will be attended by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of the UAE ’ s Independent Climate Action Accelerators Project.
It highlights the UAE ’ s hosting of this conference.
The session will be moderated by Awad Al Braiki, Head of Trends Global.
Green security initiatives
The fifth session of the conference is entitled “Multilateral Green Security Initiatives: The Beginning of a Green New Era Towards Collective Environmental Security in the Middle East ”.
It will discuss the importance of regional and collaborative efforts in operationalizing the Middle East ’ s green security initiatives, as well as ways to mitigate the challenges of environmental insecurity, and ways to enhance regional security and key infrastructure systems that accommodate different climatic conditions, through environmental measures and collective green initiatives.
The use of multilateral green security initiatives to improve the capacity of MENA countries to be global leaders in a resilient and inclusive post-carbon economy, the economic aspects of sustainable environmental security and the investments needed to achieve environmental security, and the role of the media in supporting Middle East green security initiatives.
The session will be moderated by Mohamed Al Mulla, Founder and Director of Diwan Al Mulla Network in the State of Kuwait.
The conference will conclude with recommendations and closing remarks, delivered by Somaya Hadrami, Vice President of Trends Global, and Mr. William Wechsler, Senior Director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs, Atlantic Council.
* Trends Research and Consulting Center is an independent research institution, established in 2014 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and is interested in looking to the future through many specialized research programs.
Trends has been able to build a strong network of relationships and partnerships with various international research centers and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and bodies, and benefit from international research and academic expertise to enhance its scientific and research role at the regional and global levels, by organizing scientific events that enrich the exchange of research experiences and expertise, and the production of various publications in various fields of human knowledge. *
All rights reserved to Al Ittihad Newspaper 2022 ©

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is leading the way, with a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and investing $163.5 billion in clean energy projects by 2050.

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Content: World Future Energy Summit to focus on providing ‘sustainability blueprint’

The three-day event will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from January 16 to January 18

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The 2023 World Future Energy Summit aims to provide a “crucial sustainability blueprint” amid a global focus on the energy transition and measures to boost investment in the renewables sector.

Energy industry leaders and policymakers from around the world will participate in the three-day event at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from January 16 to January 18, organisers said on Wednesday.

The summit is the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global initiative championed by the UAE and Abu Dhabi's clean energy company Masdar to hasten sustainable development and advance economic, social, and environmental progress.

“This event has evolved just as the energy sector and our economies are transitioning,” said Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.

“It has now morphed into the Middle East’s most important industry gathering, of which clean energy and infrastructure are key components.”

Countries in the Middle East such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Egypt are boosting investment in the clean energy sector.

The UAE is investing Dh600 billion ($163.5bn) in clean and renewable energy projects over the next three decades as it aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

It is building the world’s largest solar plant with a capacity of two gigawatts in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region that is expected to be ready next year, as well as the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai with a capacity of five gigawatts.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, also announced a number of new renewable energy projects as it seeks to become carbon neutral by 2060.

Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, aims to derive 42 per cent of its electricity mix from renewable sources by 2035. The North African country is hosting Cop27 next month.

“This newly transitioned event profile is in the right place at the right time, underlining a much-needed shift towards reaching our clean energy goals, as well as achieving sustainable governance and adopting consumption and [the] production of natural energy methods that ensure the quality of life for current and future generations,” Mr Al Mazrouei said.

Renewable energy investment continued to rise amid green transition efforts globally. Capital investments in renewables are set to surpass oil and gas spending for the first time in 2022 as high power prices prompt countries to further diversify their energy mix, according to a report by Rystad Energy.

Investment in renewable energy is set to hit $494bn in 2022, outstripping upstream oil and gas spending at $446bn for the year, the Oslo-based energy consultancy said this month.

In addition to the focus on energy, water, eco-waste, solar, smart cities, climate and the environment, next year's event will also preside over the launch of a dedicated hydrogen innovation centre as demand for the clean fuel picks up globally amid green transition efforts, organisers said.

The event takes place at a time when the UAE is preparing to host Cop28 next year.

Updated: October 19, 2022, 10:41 AM
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The UAE is also hosting the 28th UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, in 2023, which will focus on climate change and energy transition.

Other countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, are also making significant investments in solar energy, with a target to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

Egypt is also investing heavily in renewable energy, with a goal to reach 42% renewable electricity by 2035 and a current solar capacity of 1.59 GW.

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Content: The Middle East and North Africa have significant investments in wind energy
The Middle East and North Africa have significant investments in wind energy
Renewable energy throughout the Middle East and North Africa is usually talked about from one point of view: the sun shining strongly on the region ’ s deserts.
Solar energy is indeed a great source of energy and is designed to power equipment and appliances, but wind also blows through the plains, hills and seas of the Middle East, and megaprojects harness the power of wind and turn it into energy.
Political analyst Robin Mills says the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region actually started using modern wind energy on a commercial scale a decade before using solar power, with projects in Morocco, Egypt, Israel and in Tafileh in Jordan, where the turbines are slowly spinning near the ancient fortress of Karak.
The cheapest electricity in the world is generated from solar power in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and global projects such as the largest single-site solar farm in Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi, with a power of 2 GW, and two of the largest multi-project sites, the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai (5 GW) and Banban in Egypt (1.8 GW), can also be installed. solar on a smaller scale on the shelves of homes and factories.
Despite the lack of consistency unlike Northwest Europe, there are excellent wind resources in the MENA region.
Winds are blowing in southern Morocco and the areas around the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba in Egypt, Jordan, northwestern Saudi Arabia, southern Egypt and the southeastern coast of Oman.
Parts of Libya, southern Tunisia, the Algerian desert, inland Iran and Kuwait also experience strong winds, and in contrast to most parts of Europe, the region has open spaces where the construction of wind stations will not be rejected by some segments of society.
Egypt, which hosted the COP27, benefits from having projects that produce 1.59 GW currently installed, 0.75 GW under construction and 1.6 GW planned, and has signed a series of projects in recent weeks, which have included memorandums of understanding with Norwegian developer Skatek for 5 GW, with UAE clean energy company Masdar for 10 GW, and with Saudi energy development company Aqua for 10 GW.
It will be the second largest wind farm in the world, and the largest is Gansu, which produces 20 gigawatts in China.
Aqua is already building a 1.1 GW wind farm at Jebel Zeit on the Gulf of Suez, which will be the largest in the region when it comes into operation in late 2026, with Egypt ’ s total projected production capacity of 24 GW, the seventh largest national capacity in the world according to current figures.
In addition, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Morocco and Mauritania will need huge wind farms to build their planned green hydrogen projects, which use renewable electricity to analyze water with electricity.
Under MENA conditions, wind power is likely to be more expensive than solar, even if Saudi Arabia gets a very competitive tariff of 2.13 cents per kilowatt-hour for its first wind farm in Dumat al-Jandal (which was the lowest solar contract in the region at 1.03 cents per kilowatt-hour).
Wind power also takes longer to build, and production cannot be predicted after a few days.
But wind has many advantages: it is clear that it often blows at night more strongly than during the day, making it complementary to solar energy.
This is especially useful in hot early autumn evenings, when people need air conditioning even after sunset.
Solar energy in the region has achieved a capacity factor, which is the average output of the source as a proportion of its peak output, and is about 20 percent over the year, allowing work at night and different seasons, Egyptian wind power manages 53 percent, and solar and wind power in the best locations can have a combined capacity factor of more than 70 percent.
And there are still some vital questions about the location of turbines and mega projects planned in Egypt?
Wind lanes around Sinai are relatively confined and surrounded by mountains, and areas to the south on the Red Sea coast, or inland areas with difficult logistical hurdles, will have to be considered.
And will the region venture out and explore offshore wind power, as Northwest Europe has successfully done?
There are stronger and more consistent winds, and much more room to develop them, albeit at higher costs.
Will current project announcements overlap with green hydrogen projects?
If this is done, the wind requirements will be much greater, and will provoke competition for good sites and equipment.
Can countries in the Middle East and North Africa that are less exposed to wind power, particularly the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, benefit economically from improved turbines for slower wind speeds?
Will other wind-blowing countries with low energy, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Tunisia, start adopting this technology?
If those questions can be answered with a yes, the spinning turbines and shimmering solar panels in the Middle East and North Africa will become a symbol of the region ’ s shift to clean energy.
arabic

The region's solar capacity is expected to continue to grow, with a predicted increase of 12.8% in 2022.

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Content: Sunday, 24 September 2023 02: 03 GMT
2030 Arab Goal to Advance Renewable Energy Capabilities Globally
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Several Arab countries are accelerating to keep pace with the international aspiration to achieve the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, which is receiving widespread attention, amid various plans and strategies at national levels in many countries.
The Arab countries that are likely to play the largest role in this regard, according to industry experts, are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria and Morocco, by injecting more investments into this vital and promising sector.
During the recent G20 summit in New Delhi in September, G20 leaders expressed their support for all efforts to increase renewable energy capacity and pledged to accelerate measures to address environmental crises and challenges.
With this growing international interest in the energy transition, the plans are facing many challenges, including (but not limited to) access to finance, especially for low- and middle-income countries, with significant investment required over the coming years.
(Al-Bayan), a group of American academics and specialists in the renewable energy sector were surveyed about the main opportunities and challenges on the way to increase the desired capacity, the investments required to achieve that goal, and the extent of its expected environmental and economic repercussions.
Huge spikes.
Achieving the ambitious goal of doubling global renewable energy capacity in the near term will be reflected concretely in several contexts, explains Gregory Nemet, a specialist in the analysis of international energy systems and environmental policies at the University of Wisconsin. By 2030, it will deliver significant benefits in terms of jobs, economic development, and improved air quality, as well as putting the world on the path to addressing climate change in the long term.
“The costs of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, have dropped dramatically over the last 10 years, and most experts expect them to continue to fall, ” says Nemet, explaining that a clean, affordable source of energy creates huge opportunities, allowing global renewable energy capacity to be tripled by taking full advantage of it.
According to Nemet, the 3-fold increase also presents challenges, such as “access to finance for low- and middle-income countries, and investments in electricity grids to accommodate this growth ”, stressing that“ challenges can be overcome through sustained efforts and supportive policies, as we have seen many examples in the recent past. ” A sign of broad international cooperation is required in this regard.
Last year, renewable energy capacity (globally) increased by 9.6 percent to 3,372 gigawatts, an increase of a record 295 gigawatts, despite global uncertainty in light of geopolitical developments and the Ukrainian war, according to data published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on March 22.
Almost half of the new capacity from renewable energy in Asia has been added, with China contributing more than 141 gigawatts to the new capacity of the entire continent.
Renewable energy sources in Europe and the United States grew by 57.3 gigawatts and 29.1 gigawatts respectively.
African capacity increased slightly by 2.7 gigawatts.
According to IRENA data, although hydropower accounts for the largest share of total global renewable energy capacity at 1,250 gigawatts, solar and wind power continue to dominate new capacity, contributing 90% of total capacity last year.
Solar capacity came first with an increase of 22%, followed by wind power with an increase of 9%.
Policies and Incentives
University of Massachusetts academic David Turcotte, whose research interests include climate change and environmental justice, believes that there are many opportunities in the context of increasing global renewable energy capacity, due to increases in oil prices as a result of the Ukrainian crisis, which makes renewable energy sources more cost-effective, as well as worsening economic and human costs. Recurrent, more severe climate change disasters.
“Many developed countries have expanded policies and incentives to encourage increased capacity to produce renewable energy.
However, we still face a lot of challenges […]
That threatens to derail efforts to increase renewable energy capacity, and the transition to a clean energy economy.
Among these challenges is the lack of adequate funding to support increases in renewable energy capacity in developing countries, a challenge he described as “serious. ”
While international efforts are accelerating to target investments in the context of increasing global renewable energy capacity, those investments are still below the 1.5 ° C target.
This is shown by data from IRENA and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) released in February, which estimate the total volume of investments in renewable energy sectors during 2022 at $499 billion, up from $430 billion in the previous year 2021.
Developments in the world over the past year, especially with the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, have also encouraged many countries to move more towards renewable energy sources, to overcome the energy crisis caused by the consequences of the war, in the interest of the desired goal of increasing capacity.
Required investments
John Hall, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Center for Energy Production and Infrastructure, University of North Carolina, United States, notes that “the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 is a challenge, and achieving the goal requires an intensive global strategy, focused on significant financial investment, technological innovation targeting these communities, inclusive policies, and collaborative efforts. ”
Speaking with Al-Bayan, he stressed that community participation and infrastructure development in underserved areas should be central to the strategy, leading not only to the promotion of the energy transition, but also to economic upgrading.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that $4 trillion per year will be required in the clean energy sector until 2030 to strengthen global capacity in this regard.
Logistical challenges
Warren Mabey, an academic at Queen ’ s University who specialises in energy policy and natural resource management, told Al Bayan that “it is technically possible to triple global renewable energy capacity over the next six years, and this will put enormous pressure on the global supply chains that support the sector. and manufactured goods, necessary for the transformation process).
Mabe believes that “the cost will be enormous, and the logistical challenge may be too great to overcome ”, stressing the need for“ strong and consistent leadership from countries around the world to achieve this. ”
Arabic Steps
At the Arab level, five Arab countries (Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) are expected to account for about 72% of the region ’ s total growth in renewable energy, according to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), which expects renewable energy capacity to reach 45 gigawatts by 2027, an increase of 3 times. Compared to the last five years.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that in 2022, the Middle East saw the highest increase in renewables ever, with 3.2 gigawatts of new capacity added last year, a 12.8 percent increase over the previous year.
According to the Arab Renewable Energy Authority (AREA), the volume of investments by Arab countries in renewable energy projects is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, in light of the interest of Arab governments in this file, to achieve global environmental goals.
A Great Leap in 10 Years
According to the current data, the renewable energy sector in the region is expected to witness a huge leap in the next 10 years, at a time when eight Arab countries are leading this trend, according to the researcher in international relations and political economy, Abu Bakr al-Deeb, adviser to the Arab Center for Studies and Research, who tells Al-Bayan that the countries strongly candidate to move in this direction are:, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria and Morocco).
Aldeeb also cites the volume of electricity generated from renewable sources in the Middle East and Arab countries, which is expected to increase six-fold in 10 years through heavy reliance on solar photovoltaic energy, noting that the Arab region has “great potential ” to help launch major projects to produce energy from the sun. And wind, among these possibilities or advantages (the right climate, the bright sun most days of the year, as well as human expertise, and financial capabilities also for some countries).
The UAE is at the top of the list of Arab countries that produce electricity from solar energy, while Egypt is the largest country in the Arab world in terms of electricity production from wind energy, according to a report issued by (Global Energy Monitor), which Al-Deeb cites when explaining the progress made by some Arab countries in this sector, The UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are among the first Arab countries to establish solar and wind power plants.
According to the report, renewable power plant projects for Arab countries are likely to achieve 92% of the region ’ s total target by 2030 when completed.
One of the most reliable projects in this regard is the Green Hydrogen projects, through which the Middle East is seeking global leadership, with export revenues likely to reach $200 billion by 2050 for the Gulf countries, according to a study by Dii Desert Energy.
In this context, Al-Deeb notes the abundance of renewable energy resources, clean hydrogen, human expertise, capital, and their geographical proximity to the European market, all of which provide them with important and growing opportunities.
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Government incentives, such as the UAE's Climate Neutrality Strategy 2050 and Egypt's Renewable Energy Feed Tariff program, are driving investment in solar energy [2].

Title:

Content: Wednesday 05 April 2023
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
NEWS
$120 MILLION INVESTMENTS FOR THE FIRST WASTE TRANSFORMATION PLANT FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN AB
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Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna and Minister of Military Production Mohamed Salah El-Din signed a contract to finance, design, construct, exploit, maintain and transfer the ownership of the first plant to convert municipal solid waste into electricity between Giza Governorate and Renergy Group. Partners, with a total cost of about $120 million direct investment, is a milestone in Egypt ’ s localization of waste-to-electricity technology and enhanced partnership with the private sector.
Dr. Fouad stressed that this step is the culmination of a long journey and a success story of a journey that lasted 3 years, with constructive cooperation between the concerned ministers, and the Egyptian government has adopted a national strategy to allocate part of the collected municipal solid waste amounting to 4.5 to 5 million tons annually to convert it into energy. The use of waste as a source of energy is one of the national projects in which the Ministry of Environment participates in cooperation with several official bodies, such as the ministries of military production, local development and electricity, and comes within the framework of a package of incentives and guarantees provided by the government to encourage the private sector in Egypt to invest in waste management.
The Minister of Environment pointed out that the issuance of the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 41 of 2019 on the tariff of electric feeding generated from (municipal solid waste - biogas extracted from safe sanitary landfills - sludge from sewage treatment plants), was the cornerstone of the construction, where a national committee was formed with the participation of representatives of various parties, and issued a guide for projects to convert waste to energy. In April 2020, it was announced to receive requests for interest from companies wishing to invest in the field of converting waste to energy, and the number of companies advanced was (92) companies, evaluated through a technical committee, and the completion of the rehabilitation of (53) companies, including 19 Egyptian companies, and 34 foreign companies.
The minister pointed out that waste is not only a national challenge, but it is linked to a global challenge that is climate change, where waste is the second source of greenhouse gas emissions in Egypt after the energy sector with 13% of Egypt ’ s emissions, and the involvement of the private sector is a significant step forward. Wastes for electric power implemented 16 plants, which means adding direct investment to the private sector in the waste sector by about $1.6 billion.
The minister added that the creation of a climate supportive of the entry of the field of waste conversion to electricity requires three steps, namely the issuance of the Waste Management Law and the feeder tariff in 2020, the preparation of the contract, which is highly complex due to the multiplicity of partners, in addition to the state setting a number of incentives through the new investment law in four areas, namely waste management, new and renewable energy, green hydrogen and plastic alternatives.
The Minister of Environment explained that in implementation of the mandates of His Excellency the President to focus on Egyptian companies in the implementation of the first phase of projects to convert waste to energy, in order to localize technology and support national companies, criteria were set for the selection of 8 Egyptian companies, and the Prime Minister met with investors. Wm (Atsa), Beheira (Abu Matamir), Damietta (Abu Jarida), Menoufia (Eshmoun), Sharqiya (Husseiniya)
"Since the decision to start the implementation of this project as the first project to convert waste to electricity, the Ministry of Environment has been keen to complete all the procedures for contracting the right of use for the design, construction and operation of the power plant from solid waste, through a major consultative process in cooperation with all partners," she said. Between the competent administrative authority and the investor and its approval, legal review, holding consultation sessions with the concerned authorities, and then reviewing and approving the contract by the Fatwa Department of the State Council, until we reached the day of signing the contract, which is a starting point for the implementation of the project.
The minister pointed out that this contract is a real step to start the first projects to convert municipal solid waste to electricity, which is a model for sustainable development projects and the green economy, where it achieves the environmental dimension by reducing the accumulation of waste within the provinces that lead to environmental damage and emissions, and reduce the amount of waste buried in health landfills, in order to reduce pressure on them and help sustain them for longer periods. By enabling the production of electricity that is suitable for self-use in the plant and for connection to the network, which provides a material return and provides a new source of energy, and contributes to the implementation of a type of project under the golden license within the framework of the green transformation of the state.
The Minister thanked the teams of all ministries and partners in the implementation of the project, and appreciated their efforts over the past years to overcome the obstacles and meet the challenges to bring this project to light.
For his part, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker stressed the importance of encouraging investment in this field within the framework of the global and local trend to increase the share of renewable energies and switch to clean green energy. these projects.
Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait stressed that the projects of converting solid waste to electricity create a new path to promote environmentally friendly investments in the sectors of development and economic priority, in a way that leads to the establishment of a healthy environment and achieve an economic return, in line with the efforts of the transformation of the green economy.
The Minister of Finance added that we look forward to more contributions from the private sector in the national priority investments, in light of the unprecedented support provided by the government to enhance its participation in economic activity, through many tax and customs incentives, and supporting production, including the initiative to support the agricultural and industrial productive sectors, which applies to new and renewable energy activities. He pointed out that the state treasury also bears 5 billion pounds worth of real estate tax on industrial and productive sectors for three years, as part of the continuous support to maximize our productive capacities in light of the successive global crises.
The Minister of Finance pointed out that there are financial incentives to deepen the automotive industry in Egypt and encourage the transition to the use of gas and electricity, pointing out that we are continuing to implement the presidential initiative to replace obsolete vehicles to work with natural gas, where 15 governorates have been covered so far. The Framework for Sustainable Sovereign Finance was launched during the previous Climate Summit, which represents an important step in the field of innovative financing to achieve most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, by covering 10 axes, including: New and Renewable Energy, pointing out that the new and renewable energy projects are at the forefront of the concerns of the sector « Partnership with the private sector in the Ministry of Finance P.P.P.P.P. ». to 10 billion pounds of electricity, in line with maximizing green transformation efforts.
For his part, Major General Hisham Amna stressed the ministry 's keenness to provide all support for the success of the important project in implementation of the directives of the President of the Republic and his support for the projects of converting waste to energy and expanding new and renewable energy projects to preserve the environment. He pointed out that Giza Governorate has contracted with the alliance of the Ministry of Military Production represented by the alliance of RENERGY GROUP PARTNERS to establish a municipal solid waste treatment plant to convert it to electric power in Aborwash area to process a capacity of 1200 tons / day and investment costs estimated at $120 million.
The Minister of Local Development said that the land was allocated for the establishment of the project for the Ministry of Military Production and the environmental impact assessment studies of the project were prepared, as well as the cadastral lift and the preliminary feasibility study of the project with the work of the initial design of the plant in the project land. This technology in the treatment of waste that the amount of the final rejected that will be buried healthy safe only 5% compared to the current technologies, which the size of rejected 25%, which leads to the optimal utilization of the safe burial sites that have been built to extend the life time of them and thus preserve Egypt ’ s resources of land.
For his part, Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salahuddin Mustafa stressed the keenness of all concerned parties to move forward in the implementation of this important project, which will contribute to improving the environmental, health and living conditions of citizens and reduce pollution rates, in light of the directives of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to work on implementing projects that contribute to improving the lives of citizens and providing them with a decent life. He pointed out that this project is based on an exceptional partnership between the public and private sectors, adding that the transfer of knowledge and advanced and modern technical industry to Egypt in the field of waste recycling, where the industry will be localized from equipment within the factories of the Ministry of Military Production.
Major General Ahmed Rashid, Governor of Giza, stressed that the integrated management system of municipal solid waste is one of the difficult challenges facing the state to find sustainable and immediate solutions in the treatment of municipal solid waste through converting it into electricity, which contributes to maintaining the environmental balance, reducing air pollution emissions, and maximizing the economic value of waste. A clean card to take into account the factors of sustainability and the sustainable development strategy of the vision of Egypt 2030, in addition to seeking to achieve many of the expected economic goals that the state seeks to achieve by investing in such projects based on alternative sources of energy within green investment and relying on the establishment of green investment projects, which many countries of the world depend on as a main source of national income.
Major General Ahmed Rashid expressed his great happiness for the choice of Giza Governorate to establish the first factory of its kind to convert waste into energy, through which we can rely on the large population population of Giza Governorate, along with industrial areas and agricultural lands in the centers and cities of the governorate, which results in a huge amount of waste that can be used to feed that industry. And financial in the establishment of a municipal solid waste treatment plant and convert it into electricity, which contributes to the maintenance of public health of citizens.
Mr. Robert Falk, CEO of Renergy Group Partners, pointed out that the project is part of Egypt ’ s Vision 2030, where the plant will treat 1,200 tons of household waste and convert it into electrical energy and convert waste from a problem to a solution for renewable energy production, stressing that the project was developed under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and cooperation with the relevant ministries. RATE, which means relieving the government financially, as the Renergy Group Alliance through its partners the Ministry of Military Production, Green Tech Egypt and Oak Holding will build, own and operate the project for 25 years, after which ownership of the plant will be transferred to Giza Governorate.

The energy transition in the Middle East is not only crucial for reducing carbon emissions but also for diversifying the region's economies and reducing dependence on oil.

Title:

Content: The Middle East is on the cusp of an energy revolution.
In the midst of unprecedented climate change
The next morning – follow up:
The world is currently facing extreme weather extremes, from flash floods to heavy rainfall to record-high temperatures and wildfires, all pointing to a single source: climate change driven by carbon emissions in the air.
The Middle East is particularly affected by this situation as it produces and consumes a very large amount of carbon-emitting fossil fuels that in turn lead to climate change.
A UN report by a UN scientific panel described climate change as unprecedented, saying it was definitely people who were responsible for climate change.
He called for drastic cuts in emissions in order to keep global temperature below the limits set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “The scope of recent changes in aspects of the climate system as a whole and the current state of many aspects of the climate system are unprecedented for centuries or several millennia. ”
"Based on the available evidence, they have high confidence that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were higher in 2019 than at any point in at least two million years, and that since 1970, global surface temperature has risen faster than any other 50 years in at least the last two millennia."
234 experts from 66 countries wrote the report, the most comprehensive since 2013.
Many of the effects of climate change can no longer be avoided today.
John Alterman, vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, director of the Middle East Program and director of the Brzezinski Chair for Global and Strategic Security, says no region in the world is more immersed in the consequences of global climate change than the Middle East.
The region accounts for 30% of global oil production and oil revenues are the locomotive of government revenues in the region, either because countries produce oil or because countries produce a workforce working in oil-exporting countries and send money home.
Because of oil revenues, Middle Eastern governments can and do employ large numbers of their own population.
As the world moves away from oil as a source of energy, the economies of the Middle East will change profoundly.
John Alterman adds in a report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that at the same time the Middle East is vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.
The region is already extremely water-poor, with the Middle East having 9 of the 10 most water-poor countries.
Drought pushes farmers away from their land and the region ’ s many coastal cities are threatened by sea-level rise, and rising summer temperatures increasingly combine with humidity to endanger human survival.
The Middle East is thus rooted on both sides of the issue of climate change.
As global consumption patterns change, the Middle East will change profoundly.
With climate change, the Middle East will also change profoundly.
He adds that developing countries' energy consumption rises sharply as incomes increase and are likely to rely on existing equipment and technology for longer.
While the rich can spend thousands on green products, for much of the world ’ s population oil and gas will remain affordable fuel.
But Middle Eastern governments may not be willing to cut their oil production.
A sustained drop in global consumption, however small, would put pressure on Gulf states to increase output in a bid to drive higher-cost producers out of the market and ensure they are not left with less valuable barrels in the ground when consumption falls further.
Governments across the Middle East have been preparing for a post-oil world for years but are still far from their goals, says John Alterman.
In the Gulf countries, years will be needed to move from the reality of high-productivity, low-wage workers supporting the efforts of low-productivity, high-wage workers.
The energy transition will be important for more than just the Middle East.
Energy security is the driver of much of China ’ s recent investment in the region.
If China decides that its energy security derives from mines in Africa and not from wells in the Middle East, we should expect a shift in Chinese interest and capital.
If there is a more permanent role for oil and gas in the global energy picture, there could be more competition between the United States and China for regional influence.
Finally, Western countries could move away from hydrocarbons for environmental reasons while China and the developing world remain devoted to them for economic reasons.
This could almost be reflected in America abandoning its future role in the Middle East, with China capturing much of this inaction.
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