The Middle East, historically dependent on oil, is undergoing a significant energy transition with solar energy as a core pillar of national strategies.

Major countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, and Jordan, have launched large-scale solar projects and set ambitious renewable energy targets.

The UAE leads with investments of around $163.5 billion in renewables towards a net-zero 2050 goal, epitomized by the 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the Al Dhafra plant.

Saudi Arabia is advancing its Vision 2030 with projects like NEOM's "The Line," designed to run entirely on renewables, and further installations for solar-powered public infrastructure, contributing to annual CO2 reductions.

Egypt has built Africa’s largest solar complex at Benban (1.47 GW) and sets 42% renewables in its electricity mix by 2035, supported by investor incentives and localized solar manufacturing.

Oman’s Ibri Solar project (607 MW) and Jordan’s rapid solar scale-up, underpinned by government incentives and policy reforms, provide models for economic diversification and emission reductions .

Regionally, solar capacity grew by 23% in 2023, though it still constitutes just over 2% of the energy mix, far from displacing the 87% share held by fossil fuels.

Government incentives include decarbonization strategies, market reforms, and public-private partnerships, exemplified by projects like 'Shams Dubai' and cross-border industrial initiatives .

These efforts foster job creation, cleaner air, and less oil dependency, but grid upgrades, inclusive financing, and faster deployment are critical to meeting climate ambitions .

The Middle East, historically dependent on oil, is undergoing a significant energy transition with solar energy as a core pillar of national strategies.

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Content:
Press Release: Ariston Group Celebrates World Environment Day with Sustainable Initiatives

(MENAFN- The Revelation Consultancy DMCC) Riyadh 31st May 2024 - As the world commemorates World Environment Day, Ariston Group reaffirms its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Embarking on its ambitious 2030 vision, Ariston Group has made significant strides in aligning its operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations General Assembly. This effort is reflected across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alberto Torner, Head of Ariston Group in the Middle East, Turkey, and Caucasus, stated, "The company's mission is to deliver high-quality heating and hot water solutions while prioritizing environmental protection. Ariston Middle East's commitment to innovation and sustainability is evident in projects leveraging heat pump technology and solar energy solutions to achieve outstanding results."
The 2023 annual report released in March 2024 reports on the progress the Group has made in this area. While the target is to save 100 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2030 - the Group’s centenary year, the company’s achievement up to 2023 has already reached savings of 26.5 m tons - all of which are due to renewable and high-efficiency products developed over years of R&D investment.
Smart Sustainable Comfort for a better future is one of the pillars of the Ariston Group’s strategy. Notably, the company avoided 26 million tons of CO2 emissions, an increase of 7 million tons compared to the 2020 base year. In the realm of renewable technologies, 49% of its revenues now come from these sources, a 4 percentage point rise from 2022, as compared to 51% from fossil fuel products. Additionally, 75% of its revenues are derived from H2-ready gas boilers, marking a 40 percentage point increase from 2022, with 20% of these boilers certified H2-ready, significantly contributing to gas boiler revenues in Europe. These achievements highlight Ariston Group's steadfast dedication to reducing environmental impact and leading the market in renewable and hydrogen-ready technologies. The company continues to push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability, ensuring a better future.
Ariston Middle East's endeavours in Saudi Arabia exemplify its dedication to sustainability, aligning with the country's Vision 2030 objectives. Leveraging over 40 years of experience in the region, Ariston Middle East is advancing solar power to complement energy usage for water heating solutions, contributing to Saudi Arabia's goals of increasing renewable energy production and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
One of the very eminent projects accomplished was the Ministry of Interior office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which had a requirement of an advanced heating system to meet the hot water demand of its main building. Ariston Middle East installed a state-of-the-art solar forced system designed to supply 3,257 liters of hot water per day at 60°C, with a minimum solar contribution of 60% and an annual energy requirement of 59,354 kWh. This automated, thermoregulatory system covers 82.7% of the energy consumption, reducing CO2 emissions and gas consumption. The system contributes 51,290 kWh annually, avoiding 13,344 kg of CO2 emissions and saving 6,310 cubic meters of natural gas, highlighting Ariston's role in promoting sustainability and energy efficiency. These projects underscore Ariston's commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future in Saudi Arabia.
Ariston's innovative energy-saving technology has also been implemented in projects such as the Red Sea Ummahat Al Shaykh Islands, demonstrating the company's ability to tailor solutions to meet specific customer needs while promoting sustainable practices.
Ariston has installed energy-saving water heaters in various hospital projects in Saudi Arabia, significantly contributing to the Kingdom's healthcare infrastructure. At Al-Magrabi Specialized Hospital in Dammam, known for eye care, and King Abdullah Hospital in Bisha, which practices Nuclear Medicine, Ariston's ES Extra water heaters were installed to meet the hot water demands efficiently. These systems reduce energy consumption with their flexible configuration, quick recovery time, and double thermostats.
In alignment with the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Ariston remains dedicated to minimizing energy consumption and promoting sustainable living. As Prince Mohammed Bin Salman continues to champion sustainability through Vision 2030, Ariston Group is proud to be at the forefront of these initiatives, driving positive change in the Middle East and beyond.
"Looking ahead, I express optimism about Ariston's future in the region, particularly within the GCC. I commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its commitment to sustainability. We reaffirm Ariston's role as a corporate leader in spearheading sustainable initiatives and express gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to a cleaner, greener future" says Alberto Torner.

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Major countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, and Jordan, have launched large-scale solar projects and set ambitious renewable energy targets.

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Content: Sunday, 24 September 2023 02: 03 GMT
2030 Arab Goal to Advance Renewable Energy Capabilities Globally
(MENAFN- Al-Bayan) $(resize) .css ('font-size', newFontSize); return false;});});
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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The UAE leads with investments of around $163.5 billion in renewables towards a net-zero 2050 goal, epitomized by the 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the Al Dhafra plant.

Title:

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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Saudi Arabia is advancing its Vision 2030 with projects like NEOM's "The Line," designed to run entirely on renewables, and further installations for solar-powered public infrastructure, contributing to annual CO2 reductions.

Egypt has built Africa’s largest solar complex at Benban (1.47 GW) and sets 42% renewables in its electricity mix by 2035, supported by investor incentives and localized solar manufacturing.

Oman’s Ibri Solar project (607 MW) and Jordan’s rapid solar scale-up, underpinned by government incentives and policy reforms, provide models for economic diversification and emission reductions .

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Content: New technologies to achieve sustainability goals and address climate change
Science and Technology
Huawei
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Existing renewable energy initiatives in the Middle East are strengthening their role in supporting international efforts to address climate change.
In particular, the region is one of the largest contributors to the oil and gas sector globally, and at the same time is the cradle of a number of major and ambitious initiatives and projects aimed at enhancing the reliance on clean energy.
In the UAE, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the world ’ s largest IPP solar site, and the Al Dhafra Solar PV Plant is being built as the world ’ s largest solar power plant with a capacity of 2 GW.
Masdar City is the most sustainable urban community in the world.
ADFD is committed to funding innovative projects to accelerate access to sustainable energy as part of a joint initiative with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
In Saudi Arabia, Neom recently launched The Line, the world ’ s first car-free, carbon-free city with 100% renewable energy.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) leads green energy projects designed to manage the recycling of grey water for reuse for plant irrigation and other purposes, and also has large area photovoltaic panels that produce clean electricity.
In Egypt, hydropower is the second source of energy after thermal, wind and solar, and the country has developed a number of future projects that seek to exploit solar energy and replace non-renewable energy.
Other green projects in Egypt include the cities of Jebel Galala and El Alamein.
The Bahrain World Trade Centre is one of the world ’ s leading examples of sustainable architecture, taking the lead in being the first skyscraper in the world to introduce wind turbines to provide total energy consumption.
Morocco, famous for its huge and world-leading solar arrays, has made a big name for itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, renewable energy makes up nearly two-fifths of the country ’ s electricity, and the country implements some of the world ’ s largest clean energy projects.
Since 2012, Jordan has turned to solar power to generate electricity and government policies have pushed citizens and investors to turn to renewable energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, by offering financial facilities to investors and reducing the electricity bill.
Sustainability initiatives in the Arab countries contribute effectively to building a diversified digital economy that achieves the national visions of these countries, and the green economy initiative launched by the UAE, and the Saudi Green Initiative is a good example of this.
Today, the ICT sector is increasingly playing a role in achieving sustainability through new technologies such as 5G, cloud computing and artificial intelligence that will play a key role in implementing clean energy initiatives as they enhance productivity, improve efficiency, reduce costs and waste, evaluate business systems, analyze waste, track problems and develop solutions.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) says ICT will contribute to achieving the UN ’ s Sustainable Development Goals and improving the quality of life.
According to the United Nations, ICT can be relied upon in two ways: reliance on clean information and communication technology, and clean energy generation based on information and communication technology.
In the first scenario, ICT solutions that contribute to environmental safety and carbon reduction are designed.
In the second scenario, ICT solutions such as those in grids, buildings, smart logistics and industrial processes help promote sustainability and energy efficiency.
The sustainability efforts of tech companies have been recognized globally, Huawei is an example of companies that have adjusted their business in line with sustainability goals, and recently received an award from the International Mobile Phone Association for their contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through mobile devices.
The company aims to rely on innovative technologies to drive clean development across various sectors and industries, and in 2021 it used more than 300 million kWh of electricity produced from renewable sources, an increase of 42.3% compared to 2020.
Huawei ’ s digital power solutions have generated 482.9 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy and reduced electricity consumption by 14.2 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to 230 million tons of carbon emissions.
In parallel with efforts to promote a sustainable approach to technology, the ICT industry must not lose sight of the issue of enhanced security.
Technology providers should focus on protecting user privacy when working to provide modern, seamless technology and communications.
Certainly, we will not be able to grow the business and ensure its sustainability if we do not provide safe and reliable technologies to protect cybersecurity, which is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders involved in sustainability.
The current digital divide could isolate millions of people around the world from contributing to the development of a clean economy.
Tech companies can contribute to making technology accessible to all thanks to their technical capabilities and resources.
Through initiatives such as TECH4ALL, Huawei has relied on digital technologies to implement programs aimed at enhancing the leadership capabilities of more than 110,000 people in 2021.
The digital divide in global talent could undermine sustainability efforts, so greater emphasis should be placed on redressing it and priority should be given to strengthening collaboration between tech companies, academia and government institutions in order to bridge the digital skills gap.
By investing in programs to prepare local technical cadres, hone skills and enhance practical experience, more bridges of cooperation between the public and private sectors can be built to prepare the future generation of sustainability leaders with the help of technology.
Huawei has established 163 ICT academies in the Middle East.
More than 3,500 students participated in the Seeds for the Global Future program, while more than 37,000 students received Huawei certifications.
The company has also provided training to more than 120,000 ICT talents in the region who are expected to contribute to the advancement of sustainability in the countries of the region by making the most of technology.
In light of the increasing challenges of reducing carbon emissions facing various countries around the world, we all have a responsibility to strengthen cooperation and work together to build a sustainable and prosperous future for future generations.
By: Ammar Taba, Huawei Vice President for Public Relations and Media in the Middle East
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Regionally, solar capacity grew by 23% in 2023, though it still constitutes just over 2% of the energy mix, far from displacing the 87% share held by fossil fuels.

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Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
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General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
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World Future Energy Summit.
Green finance and climate change lead day 2
The second day of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the UAE, kicked off today.
The summit is the premier annual forum for future energy and sustainability.
The day ’ s events focused on green finance, with Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, stressing the urgency of correcting climate change and thinking outside the box, and providing inspiring views on the obstacles to investing in renewable energy and ways to develop it during a session entitled “Financing Global Approaches to Low-Carbon Economies ”.
“It takes a lot of in-depth social studies, practical solutions and a lot of financial support – governments around the world spend a lot of money to defend themselves against other governments, but we don ’ t spend that much money to fight everyone ’ s first enemy, climate change.
He believes that finding practical solutions requires a serious approach to financing and establishing an assembly line for simple renewable energy projects, so that tangible results can be achieved as soon as possible, which is not possible without setting aside the side issues that usually concern us or we will not be able to solve the problem for another 10 years.
Ahmed Bahieldin, General Manager and Commercial Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at GE Vernova, an independent public company spin-off of GE ’ s energy, wind and electricity business, also joined the panel.
“Time is an important factor, especially as there is a lot of capital looking for projects in advanced markets, especially in the areas of renewable energy sources and new technologies, and regulatory reforms and the structuring of the revenue model give more room for growth.
The second day of the summit also saw the launch of the Solar Outlook 2024 report, officially released by the Middle East Solar Industry Association at the World Future Energy Summit.
The report highlights the growing contribution of solar energy to the MENA region ’ s ongoing energy transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewables, amid continued manufacturing boom, population and economic growth, as well as concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability.
Solar Energy
According to the report, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region today has one of the highest levels of solar energy potential in the world, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Egypt contributing on average annual solar radiation exceeding 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.
While the regional solar growth trajectory is expected to continue, the report reveals that it is still well below the levels required to replace the current fossil fuel contribution of 87%, with solar providing just over 2% of the current energy mix in the MENA region.
Denisa Vines, Secretary General of the Middle East Solar Industry Association, said: “The COP28 pledge to increase renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency with the support of 124 countries has set ambitious targets to increase the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures by 2030, but we still face many challenges to achieve these goals, especially in the energy sector within the Gulf region. After 2030, a variety of technologies are expected to be market-ready, offering scalable solutions to decarbonize the energy sector, enabling a more effective role for renewables, energy efficiency and zero-emission technologies.
The broad pursuit of ambitious targets by 2030 is focused on public utility projects, which may overshadow the needs of the commercial and industrial sectors, and this underscores the importance of considering a balanced approach to energy deployment to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
COP28 Pledges
Speaking at the Solar and Clean Energy Conference, Dr. Ralph Blumenthal, Head of Networks Programs Middle East at Siemens, praised the ongoing discussions on digitization and the great importance of integrating renewables into smart grids to help achieve the goals of the COP28 pledge.
Batteries are key if we want to triple renewables by 2030, and increase them nine-fold by 2050. Batteries are not only storage, they are essential to grid regulation and reduce disruptions that may occur during renewable energy generation. Today, around 1,500 GW of renewable energy has been installed globally and is ready for deployment, but cannot be integrated into networks. It operates 100% on renewable energy, but national grids have not yet been able to effectively integrate renewables on a large scale.
Constructive discussions and sessions on global energy issues and solutions will continue tomorrow with the Electric Mobility Forum, which will comprehensively examine the role of clean and independent transport in changing the future of city design, and what is needed to unlock the potential of investing in expanding electric mobility.

Government incentives include decarbonization strategies, market reforms, and public-private partnerships, exemplified by projects like 'Shams Dubai' and cross-border industrial initiatives .

These efforts foster job creation, cleaner air, and less oil dependency, but grid upgrades, inclusive financing, and faster deployment are critical to meeting climate ambitions .

Title:

Content: Egypt News
China is the world ’ s top solar power producer with 584.2 TWh
Mohamed Ismail - Cairo - Cairo - A:
The Information and Decision Support Center at the Council of Ministers issued a new analysis highlighting solar energy and its role in the transition towards sustainable energy, as well as the most important international markets in the field of photovoltaic energy, the most important elements of Egypt in the field of solar energy production, and the Egyptian efforts towards localizing the solar panel industry.
Solar energy in Egypt has seen remarkable growth in recent years driven by high demand for clean energy, the achievement of Egypt ’ s 2030 vision to shift towards renewable energy, and the Egyptian state ’ s support for green projects. It is about 7 times more renewable.
The analysis of the center at the beginning dealt with the manufacture of solar energy systems, as it explained that solar cells (photovoltaics) are the main component of solar energy panels, where solar energy is converted into electrical energy, through photovoltaic effect, so that the cell is made of semi-conductive materials, which acquires electrical properties when exposed to light, such as: electric current, resistance, voltage, and the solar cell must also be able to absorb light. And the production of electrons, and the default ages of solar cells of different types range from (10 to 30 years).
Solar cells are generally made of semiconductor materials, for example crystalline silicon, which is extracted from sand processing, and silicon production makes up nearly 90% of the solar cell industry.
According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in April on these markets in 2024, the global cumulative capacity of PV has grown to 1.6 terawatts in 2023, compared to 1.2 terawatts in 2022, with 446 gigawatts of PV systems being used in 2023, up from 407.3 gigawatts.
The analysis indicated that PV has played an important role in reducing CO2 emissions from electricity in 2023, with more than 75% of new renewable capacity installed in 2023, and about 60% of generation from new renewable capacity.
China accounted for the largest share of cumulative PV capacity with 43% of total PV capacity globally in 2023, followed by the Asia-Pacific region with 19%, Europe with 18%, and the Americas with 15%.
In terms of the largest countries in solar electricity generation in the world, China was the highest in solar energy production (584.2 terawatt-hours) in 2023, followed by the United States (238.1 terawatt-hours), India (113.4 terawatt-hours) and Japan (109.4 terawatt-hours).
The IEA ’ s latest report, released in June 2024, looks at global energy investments, with global energy investment expected to exceed US $3 trillion for the first time in 2024, of which US $2 trillion is dedicated to clean energy technologies and infrastructure.
Investment in clean energy has accelerated since 2020, and spending on renewable energy is now higher than total spending on oil, gas and coal.
Solar panel costs have fallen by 30% over the past two years, and the prices of metals essential for energy transitions, especially those needed for batteries, have fallen sharply.
The IEA report warns that energy investment flows continue to be disrupted, especially insufficient clean energy investments in emerging markets and developing countries outside China, although there are initial signs of recovery, with clean energy investments expected to approach US $320 billion in 2024, up more than 50% since 2020.
In 2024, the share of global clean energy investment in emerging market economies and developing countries outside China is expected to remain at around 15% of the total, which – both in terms of volume and share – falls far short of what is needed to ensure full access to modern energy and meet growing energy demand in a sustainable manner.
The energy sector ’ s investment in solar PV technology is also expected to exceed US $500 billion in 2024, surpassing all other sources of generation combined, and although growth may slow slightly in 2024 due to lower PV prices, solar remains central to the energy sector ’ s transformation.
The analysis pointed out that Egypt has enormous natural, geographical and economic potentials that make it an ideal destination to become a regional and global center for solar energy production.
The analysis reviewed the most important of these elements: first, the natural resources where Egypt has the potential of solar photovoltaic energy, and is expected to maximize the benefit of natural geography and the potential of local solar energy, in addition to the availability of silicon ore, which is used in the manufacture of solar panels. Fourth, solar energy exploits the promotion of the private sector: the state supports private sector companies in the field of new and renewable energy to enable them to enter strongly into the production of new and renewable energy, through its management and operation.
The competitiveness of Egypt in the field of human resources is its ability to provide skilled and trained workers in the field of manufacturing and production of solar energy, and Egypt is the main regional source of skilled labor in many sectors, including the new and renewable energy sector, especially in light of the adoption of national programs to prepare and train skilled workers.
Sixth, advanced and modern infrastructure: There are many elements in the field of infrastructure in Egypt, where Egypt has achieved unprecedented achievements in the field of infrastructure projects that have contributed to strengthening its regional and international role and making it one of the most important countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The analysis pointed out that within the framework of the Egyptian state ’ s interest in national projects, especially renewable energy projects, the state adopted an integrated and sustainable development strategy until 2035 to support the capacity of the electricity and renewable energy sector, and implement its pledge to reach 42% of renewable energy by 2030 instead of 2035, compared to 20% in 2022.
The analysis highlighted the most important major projects to localize the solar panel industry: the Silicon Production Complex in New Alamein City, comprising four phases, where the detailed feasibility study of the first phase was completed, which aims to produce metallic silicon with a production capacity of 45,000 tons per year, at an investment cost estimated at $172 million, based on ultra-pure Egyptian quartz ore instead of exporting it as a raw material.
The second phase of the project includes the production of intermediate silicon derivatives that enter the industries of insulating materials, construction and construction, rubber, medical uses, and others, while the third phase of the project aims to establish a factory for the production of polysilicon, which enters the manufacture of solar cells and electronics, with a production capacity of about 10 thousand tons annually.
The launch of the Egypt Solar Platform is one of the most important major projects and was launched during the current year, in order to automate and facilitate the installation of small solar plants, and through the platform to identify the follow-up of the installation of "solar power plants" for citizens, individuals and companies, and connect them to the national electricity network through various distribution companies.
The platform was established in cooperation between the New and Renewable Energy Authority, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, the Small and Medium Cell Systems Project of the Industrial Modernization Center, and the Electricity Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Authority.
ACWA Power ’ s Kom Ombo solar project is one of the most important projects, with a capacity of 200 MW of clean energy that contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide by 280 thousand tons annually, and meets the needs of about 130 thousand housing units, in addition to the project contains the latest technology of solar panels, in addition to 952 electric reflectors on an area of 4.8 square kilometers.
The project aims to expand the production of clean energy produced, create jobs for young people, contribute to the diversification of electricity sources for citizens, and reduce 2 million tons of carbon emissions annually. The project includes 32 solar plants to generate electricity with a capacity of 1.47 thousand megawatts.
The Cabinet approved the offer of Amia Power, a subsidiary of the UAE ’ s Al Nowais Investment Group, to implement additional renewable energy projects, bringing the total capacity planned to be added from Amia Power ’ s projects before summer 2025 to 2,000 megawatts, including a battery storage system.
The analysis pointed out that Egypt has huge potential in the field of solar energy production thanks to these promising elements; to become a regional and global leader in solar energy production, as well as targeting the Egyptian state ’ s strategy to increase the contribution of renewable energy in the electricity mix, diversify the sources of electricity production, and exploit natural resources, especially new and renewable energy sources.
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