The Middle East is transitioning from reliance on oil and gas to a leader in renewable energy, with numerous projects underway.

The region has announced several large-scale solar projects, including a 10GW project in Saudi Arabia to support its renewable energy goals.

The UAE is investing Dh600 billion in clean energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Saudi Arabia aims to be carbon neutral by 2060 with new renewable energy projects.

Egypt's Benban solar park and Gulf of Suez wind project are among the Middle East's largest renewable energy projects.

The IFC has approved a $635mn investment to build and operate 11 solar power plants in Egypt with a 500-megawatt capacity.

The Arab Clean Energy Initiative targets 80 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from 12 GW in 2013.

Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Kuwait, are offering government incentives to support solar energy adoption.

These incentives are being provided through legislation or government and official bank loans.

Government incentives play a key role in the region's energy transition, crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

The local economy is expected to benefit from the growth of the solar energy industry, creating new jobs and stimulating growth.

The MENA region has enormous potential for large-scale wind and solar power projects due to its favorable climate.

Arab countries are planning over 73 gigawatts of solar and wind projects, which will account for 91% of the Arab League's 2030 renewable energy goals.

The adoption of solar energy in the Middle East can support climate goals and economic growth.

The Middle East's transition to solar energy is underway, with large-scale projects and strategies supporting renewable energy development.

The Middle East is transitioning from reliance on oil and gas to a leader in renewable energy, with numerous projects underway.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Economy: Benban and the Gulf of Suez are among the largest renewable energy projects
Economic Middle East magazine, which specializes in economics and energy, said that the Benban solar park and the Gulf of Suez wind project in Egypt are considered among the largest renewable energy projects in the Middle East.
Renewable Energy Projects in the Middle East
The Middle East has long relied on oil and gas, not only for revenue but also for power generation, but in the past years, the region has positioned itself as a leader in the renewable energy sector, boasting numerous renewable energy projects.
From 2023 to 2028, Mordor Intelligence expects the renewable energy market in the Middle East to grow by 13.43% annually.
The Arab Clean Energy Initiative was launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and during the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit of 2013, the League of Arab States adopted the initiative, with leaders pledging to increase renewable energy generation capacity in the region from 12 GW in 2013 to 80 GW by 2030.
Benban Solar Park
Located in Aswan, Egypt with a capacity of 1,800 megawatts, Benban Solar Park is valued at $4 billion and includes 41 solar power plants, one of the largest solar PV parks in the world, spanning 37 square kilometers and containing 7 million photovoltaic panels, this initiative is a component of Egypt ’ s Renewable Energy Feed Tariff (FiT) program, which was unveiled in September 2014.
Gulf of Suez Wind Power Project
In November last year, ACWA Power and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) signed a memorandum of understanding, and together they will invest in a 1100 MW wind power project in Jebel Zeit and the Gulf of Suez. The project is one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world, and aims to provide power to more than one million households and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 2.4 million tons.

The region has announced several large-scale solar projects, including a 10GW project in Saudi Arabia to support its renewable energy goals.

Title:

Content: Land solar energy investment set off the "Middle East fever" total amount of nearly 100 billion
China's new energy investment set off the "Middle East fever", solar industry giants Jingke Energy, TCL Central almost at the same time announced cooperation with Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) sovereign fund solar projects, a total investment of about 3 billion US dollars (about NT $97.5 billion).
In addition, inverter giant Sunlight Power announced the successful signing of the world's largest energy storage project with Saudi company ALGIHAZ, with a capacity of up to 7.8GWh.
Analysts pointed out that the above case means that in addition to the continued investment of Middle East funds in the mainland, in the solar industry is subject to overcapacity criticism, mainland funds choose to go to the Middle East to develop the solar industry.
Founded in 1971, PIF is one of the largest and most influential sovereign renewable wealth funds in the world. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, RELC, is one of the largest and most influential renewable wealth funds in the world. and a leader in green energy technology manufacturing.
Founded in 2021 by two major conglomerates, Abunayyan and Al Muhaidib, VI aims to build a new energy industry chain manufacturing capacity in Saudi Arabia to meet the huge demand for new energy in the Middle East and the world, and is an investor and developer of green energy industrial projects to support the localization of supply chains.
Among them, JinkoSolar ’ s joint venture company plans to set up a joint venture company in Saudi Arabia to build 10GW of high-efficiency batteries and components, with a total investment of 7.157 billion yuan.
JinkoSolar has a market share of more than 50% in the Middle East in 2023, including more than 70% in Saudi Arabia.
The joint venture company of TCL Central has an annual output of 20 GW of solar wafer projects in Saudi Arabia, with a total investment of about RMB15.1 billion.
It is also TCL ’ s first overseas solar wafer factory in Central.
After the project is launched, it will become the first solar wafer project in Saudi Arabia and the largest wafer factory in the world.
Vision Group ’ s joint venture will manufacture wind turbines and critical components locally. Helping Saudi wind power value chain achieve 75% localized production by 2030.
And Vision is the global wind power leader, overseas wind orders for two consecutive years accounted for 70% of the orders of mainland China's wind power enterprises.
At the same time, Sunlight Power also announced three sites in the Middle East energy storage project, in the Najran, Madaya and Khamis Mushait regions of Saudi Arabia, with deliveries starting in 2024 and full capacity grid operation in 2025.
However, Sun Power did not disclose the contract amount in the announcement.
TCL Middle East Wealth
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The UAE is investing Dh600 billion in clean energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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

Beta V.1.0 - Powered by automated translation

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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MORE FROM THE NATIONAL

Saudi Arabia aims to be carbon neutral by 2060 with new renewable energy projects.

Egypt's Benban solar park and Gulf of Suez wind project are among the Middle East's largest renewable energy projects.

The IFC has approved a $635mn investment to build and operate 11 solar power plants in Egypt with a 500-megawatt capacity.

Title:

Content: $635mn investment approved to build and operate 11 solar plants in Egypt

By James Henderson
The Board of Executive Directors of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved an investment of $635mn that will help construct, ope...

The Board of Executive Directors of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved an investment of $635mn that will help construct, operate and maintain up to 11 solar power plants in Egypt.

The combined capacity of the plants amount to 500 megawatts, and will be one of the largest private foreign direct investments in the country’s power sector in recent years.

Part of Egypt's landmark solar Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program, the $730mn project in Benban, near Aswan, aims to mobilise private investment to build the world's largest solar photovoltaic generation park, harnessing the country’s vast solar resources.

SEE ALSO:

As well as helping to spur economic growth, the project will help drive the local economy, including the creation of temporary and long-term jobs and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

“This landmark investment demonstrates that when you have the right reform policies, and a government willing to allow greater involvement by the private sector, you can attract investors in every sector, including infrastructure,” said Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Investments like these are the nucleus for economic growth, which is needed in Egypt.”

Egypt’s solar FIT program, which includes projects financed by other institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Proparco, is expected to be one of the largest foreign direct investments in years, attracting investments of up to $2bn.

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The Arab Clean Energy Initiative targets 80 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from 12 GW in 2013.

Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Kuwait, are offering government incentives to support solar energy adoption.

Title:

Content: Among them Iraq.
5 Arab Countries Leading Solar Energy Support Programs
2023-11-07 | 02: 22
Alsumaria News – Economy
Solar subsidy and loan programs in Arab countries continue at a time when the need for alternative energy sources is acute, as the effects of climate change intensify, and the global energy crisis that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 intensifies.
Solar energy in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait receives official support, either through direct legislation approved by the parliaments of these countries, or through loans made available by government and official banks there, or through national and national projects provided by the ministries of energy and electricity, according to the specialized energy platform.
In the coming years, support for solar energy in Arab countries is expected to gain momentum, with many declaring their commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century and plans to increase the contribution of renewable energy to their electricity mix by 2050.
* Support for solar energy in Jordan
The most prominent support received by solar energy in the Arab countries is that provided by Jordan, through a range of programs supervised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as the solar loan project in Jordan witnessed a new step on Sunday, October 29, as part of efforts to motivate citizens to adopt clean energy.
The Agricultural Credit Corporation signed an agreement with the Renewable Energy Promotion Fund to support the second phase of the program to install solar cell systems for farmers to cover the interest on the loans, according to a press release.
* Solar Loans in Jordan
The Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Agricultural Lending Corporation, Khalid Al-Hanifat, said that the agreement will reduce the cost of production for farmers, as it targets all animal and plant agricultural activities, as it covers beneficiaries with a ceiling of 20 thousand dinars (28.1 thousand US dollars) without interest.
At the same time, Jordan is preparing for the third phase of the strongest support program witnessed by solar energy in the Arab countries, the installation of solar cells in homes, the second phase of which ended in July 2023, according to information monitored by the specialized energy platform.
This program aims to support the use of solar energy in Jordanian homes, as well as the installation of solar heaters, which will reduce the cost of electricity for citizens, while reducing the energy import bill for the state.
* Solar Loans in Lebanon
As part of the efforts to support solar energy in the Arab countries, the Lebanese effort, which aims to alleviate the energy crisis, is highlighted through an important program to grant solar energy loans, which are an appropriate and sustainable solution to overcome the energy threat, as described by the Lebanese government a year ago.
The installation of solar energy in the homes of Lebanese will solve the crisis of high electricity bills, as these loans are provided to the low- and middle-income by the initiative "Loans to the low- and middle-income", in cooperation with the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation.
Loans for the installation of solar energy systems and plants in Lebanon range from 75 million to 200 million liras ($2,590 to $6,900) per person, up to a maximum of 80% of the project cost, and at an interest rate of 4.99% per annum, depending on the specialized energy platform.
* Information on Solar Loans in Lebanon
It is noteworthy that the solar energy market in the Arab countries is witnessing increasing growth, especially in Lebanon, which, despite its major crisis, witnessed during 2020 about 313 projects authorized, with a capacity of 14 MW, before this number increased, and the country records 662 applications for the installation of solar plants, during the period from October 2021 to March 2022.
According to the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation, the installation of solar power plants in Lebanese homes will save citizens the value of high bills, which makes them able to save the value of the loan within two to three years, especially since the repayment is limited to paper lira only.
Solar energy in Egypt
In August 2023, the Committee on Energy and Environment in the Egyptian House of Representatives set a number of rules to increase the number of small household units to consume electricity from solar energy, as part of its recommendations on the Economic and Social Development Plan for 2023-2024.
The Committee stressed the need to develop alternative renewable sources of energy, to take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its consequences, while working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the transition to low-carbon vehicles.
Solar energy in Egypt
Prior to these directives, Egypt witnessed one of the strongest solar energy subsidy programs in the Arab countries, with four banks, including government banks, providing loans of large amounts to support the installation of solar energy systems and their stations for homes, through various repayment programs.
HSBC Egypt, one of the largest solar loans in the Arab world, is offering EGP 2 million ($64,675) with a repayment period of about seven years, while QNB is offering a loan of EGP 400,000 ($12,930) for seven years.
Misr State Bank also offers a financing program worth up to EGP 500,000 ($16,168) and a repayment period of up to 10 years, while the Commercial International Bank (CIB) offers a loan worth EGP 350,000 ($11,300) with a repayment period of 5 years.
* Solar energy in Kuwait
As the State of Kuwait prepares to complete new phases of the Shaqaya CSP project, the State continues to encourage citizens to use solar energy in their homes, as part of its drive to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce emissions by mid-century.
The State of Kuwait adopts a unique approach that distinguishes it from all consumers of solar energy in the Arab countries, as it encourages citizens to sell electricity in excess of their consumption to the government, generated from solar panels installed on rooftops.
* Solar energy in Kuwait
According to an analysis by Mordor Intelligence, seen by the specialized energy platform, the solar energy market in Kuwait is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of more than 7%, especially as this market is achieving a significant recovery, despite the damage caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus three years ago.
Despite this, Kuwait ’ s solar market is not growing in line with expectations, as initial spending is large, and there is a lack of multiple government programs during the forecast period, but over time internal subsidies continue, leaving the country with the most important solar projects in the Arab countries.
At the same time, the Kuwaiti government is working to provide solar energy to citizens by building huge power plants from an inexhaustible renewable source, especially as Kuwait enjoys a very high brightness, which qualifies it to enter this market from its widest doors.
Iraq to finance solar installation
As Iraq faces one of the difficult electricity crises, caused by the lack of Iranian gas supplies, and seeks alternative sources, both external (such as Qatari gas) and internal (such as the tendency to burn gas associated with electricity generation), Baghdad continues to provide one of the most important forms of solar energy subsidies in Arab countries.
In January 2022, the Central Bank of Iraq issued controls to finance electricity generation systems from renewable energy, as the governor of the bank signed the first circular that allows citizens and institutions to buy systems and power plants from solar energy.
Solar energy in Iraq
This initiative is in line with the State ’ s commitment to the decisions of the Paris Climate Conference, as the interest on loans provided to citizens to install solar power plants did not exceed 1%.
While the value of loans ranged between 7 million Iraqi dinars (4 thousand and 800 dollars) for stations 3 kilowatt hours, and one billion dinars (685 thousand dollars) for large projects in residential squares, according to the website of the Central Bank of Iraq.
Source: Energy Platform
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These incentives are being provided through legislation or government and official bank loans.

Government incentives play a key role in the region's energy transition, crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

The local economy is expected to benefit from the growth of the solar energy industry, creating new jobs and stimulating growth.

The MENA region has enormous potential for large-scale wind and solar power projects due to its favorable climate.

Title:

Content: In numbers...
Arab countries race to double their renewable energy production by 2030
ECONOMY
Publish
3 minutes read
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — (CNN) Arab countries are on track to grow their utility-scale wind and solar capacity by more than 500% by 2023, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor.
According to the report, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has enormous potential for large-scale wind and solar power projects because of its favorable climate and sunny weather for most of the year.
Arab countries are planning more than 73 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind projects, a more than fivefold increase in current capacity, which together with operational projects will account for 91% of the Arab League ’ s renewable energy goals for 2030.
The UAE is at the top of the list of Arab countries that produce the most electricity from solar energy, with solar plants producing 2.6 gigawatts of electricity.
Egypt is among the Arab countries that produce the most electricity from wind power at 1.6 gigawatts.
Egypt produces 1.9 gigawatts of electricity from solar power plants.
Egypt ’ s total electricity production from both places it at the top of the list of Arab countries with a production capacity of 3.5 gigawatts.
Thanks to its huge investments in solar electricity production, the UAE ranks second in wind and solar electricity production, followed by Morocco in third place with 1.9 GW and Jordan in fourth place with 1.7 GW.
While Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Jordan are the first Arab countries to initiate wind and solar power plants, Oman, Algeria and Kuwait are poised to follow suit, ranking first in expected solar and wind power production in the near future.
Here are the top Arab countries in terms of the current operation of solar and wind energy on the scale of utilities and the capacity of wind and solar energy expected to be produced at the level of each country in the Arab region.

Arab countries are planning over 73 gigawatts of solar and wind projects, which will account for 91% of the Arab League's 2030 renewable energy goals.

The adoption of solar energy in the Middle East can support climate goals and economic growth.

Title:

Content: May 27, 2022
Lalish Media Network
A daily electronic newspaper published under the supervision of the High Commission of the Lalish Cultural and Social Center in Duhok - Kurdistan Iraq
The engineer.
Hazem Ismail Kazim: Iraq in the grip of the climate crisis
Iraq in the grip of the climate crisis
The engineer.
Hazem Ismail Kazem
Due to its geographical location in the heart of the Middle East, Iraq is considered a turning point for all the climatic changes taking place in the region because the terrain has a harsh opinion on the environmental impact taking place in the Middle East.
Iraq, classified as one of the greatest countries in the Middle East according to the World Bank report in 1944 in its first reports on Iraq, clearly pointed to the importance of economic development through the support of agricultural projects in a timely manner.
The World Bank estimates that the annual economic cost of environmental degradation in Iraq ranges from four to eight percent of GDP. As water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have fallen by more than 60 percent over the past 20 years and water quality has deteriorated, Iraq is in the grip of a water crisis following recent years of severe drought, crop eradication in some parts of the country and an unusually large number of sandstorms. The effects are profound for Iraq as it grapples with water supplies and the creeping desert.
Iraq is divided geographically into several areas, a large proportion of which is desert with an area of   54%, while the rest of the areas are distributed among arable land in the sedimentary plain constituting 21.5%, natural pastures in the northern and southern desert 42.5%, natural pastures in the Jazira region desert constituting 5.9%, multiple forests, pastures and agriculture in mountains and valleys constituting 18.3% and multiple pastures In the wavy areas constitute 9.5% and the rest of the area is water bodies constitute 2.3% of the total area of   Iraq, but the sources of the Ministry of Planning for 2012 indicate that the area of   cultivated land about 17.2 million dunums in 2012, which constitutes 9.8% of the area of   Iraq was cultivated!
The Iraqi government has developed a five-year plan to support the national program to combat sand and dust storms in Iraq 2015-2020, which has been planned with a number of 16 proposed projects at a total cost of US $186.1 million over five years, but we do not have reports on the level of progress in this plan.
This creeping desertification tongue will pose a major challenge to strategic and small service projects in Iraq, including but not limited to:
Oil Industry Projects
The change in climatic conditions will be reflected in the specifications of the sites of the projects Site Conditions and therefore the specifications of the oil equipment will increase its cost by at least 30% as this change will affect the capital costs of the projects CAPEX and OPEX. Response in general as well as from work hazards related to occupational health and safety conditions.
Electric Power Projects
In addition to the above mentioned in the environmental impact on the capital cost of CAPEX projects and the cost of maintenance and operation OPEX, it will be reflected on the production, transmission and distribution of electric power where the gas generating units will be affected by dust storms, especially in the INLET turbine unit in addition to other generating accessories. This requires a review of the annual maintenance plan on the lines in terms of cleaning and monitoring.
Renewable Energy Projects
Iraq is classified as one of the young countries supporting the strategy of renewable energy projects such as solar energy, the latest of which is the direction of the Iraqi government to contract with the French company Total to establish a solar power plant with a capacity of 1000MW.
Mitigating PV dust is one of the key aspects of maintenance required to improve PV performance and productivity. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the most dusty in the world and has the highest frequency of dust storms in the Middle East, especially in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and along the Syrian-Iraqi border, where there is the highest dust density in the Middle East.
The energy production of PV panels is greatly affected by several factors, such as wind speed and direction, solar radiation, shading, temperature, cleanliness, air pollution, etc. A slight change in climatic conditions affects solar radiation as well as ambient temperature, resulting in differences in the resulting energy obtained from PV panels.
Studies have shown the relationship between the energy loss of the PV panel and the mass of dust accumulated on its surface in depth where it was concluded that there is a linear relationship between the two variables; the smaller the size of the dust particles deposited, the more radiation is blocked on the surface of the PV module, and therefore, the more visible the decrease in energy generated.
That is, Iraq is witnessing great risks to renewable energy projects as a result of the environmental impact it is experiencing at present.
Other health and service projects
As a result of the adverse climate changes we are witnessing and the poor infrastructure in health, school and other service buildings, it requires a review of the basic designs in the design documents and evaluation stages of service and health projects and their locations relative to the wind direction.
The re-evaluation of projects and the updating of engineering specifications is very important, knowing that the environmental impact we are witnessing now will increase the complexity of the service portfolio and the difficulty of sustainability of its facilities.
The Iraqi state institutions are required to strategy decision-making taking into account the transition of their philosophy from risk-tolerant institutions to the philosophy of searching for risks through the centers of studies and research in their administrative structure because the negative environmental impact will represent the biggest challenge to economic development, which requires feasible alternatives as a first step of their response to risk risk, which will overshadow the operational budget at the expense of the investment budget. Balance between economic, social and environmental features.
Expert in Project Management (PMP)
Risk Management and PMI-RMP
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The Middle East's transition to solar energy is underway, with large-scale projects and strategies supporting renewable energy development.


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At its peak, LiveJournal had more than 2.5 million active accounts, but its popularity declined over time, with its peak being almost 10 years ago, in early 2005.

The platform's early success can be attributed to its unique features, such as the ability for users to customize their journal's appearance and layout, as well as the option to set different levels of access for friends, family, and the general public.

One of the key features that distinguished LiveJournal from other early blogging platforms was its strong focus on community building, which was facilitated through the use of "friends lists" and comment threads.

The friends list feature allowed users to connect with others who shared similar interests and create a network of like-minded individuals, which helped to foster a sense of community and encourage user engagement.

LiveJournal also introduced the concept of "user icons," which were small images that users could display next to their posts and comments, adding a touch of personality to their online presence.

The platform's comment system, which allowed users to engage in discussions and debates with one another, was also a key factor in building and maintaining a strong sense of community.

The decline of LiveJournal's popularity after 2005 can be attributed to various factors, including changes in user behavior, advancements in technology, and shifts in the social media landscape.

The emergence of new social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, also contributed to LiveJournal's decline, as these platforms offered more innovative and user-friendly interfaces, which attracted many of LiveJournal's users.

LiveJournal's failure to adapt to the changing preferences of its user base, such as the lack of innovation and the inability to effectively address concerns such as spam and privacy, also led to a loss of relevance and decreased user engagement.

The rapid pace of technological progress and the need for continuous innovation in the social media landscape made it challenging for LiveJournal to keep up with the changing times, ultimately contributing to its decline.

Despite its decline, LiveJournal remains an important part of internet history, and its influence can still be seen in modern social media platforms and online communities.

The technical decisions made by Brad Fitzpatrick during the development of LiveJournal played a significant role in shaping the site's unique features and community, and its legacy continues to be felt in the online world.

What made LiveJournal different from other blogging platforms was its focus on community and user interaction, with features such as comments, friends lists, and user profiles, which allowed users to connect with each other and build relationships.

LiveJournal's unique features, such as friends lists and comment threads, played a significant role in user engagement and community building on the platform, allowing users to connect with others who shared similar interests and engage in discussions.

However, these features also contributed to the platform's decline in popularity, as the rise of other social media platforms offered more streamlined and user-friendly interfaces, drawing users away from LiveJournal.

The platform's failure to adapt to changing user behaviors and technological advancements, such as the shift to mobile devices, also played a significant role in its decline.

LiveJournal's history, which began as a personal journaling application created by Brad Fitzpatrick, highlights the importance of adaptability and innovation in the rapidly evolving social media landscape.

Despite its decline, LiveJournal remains a notable example of the impact of social media on community building and user engagement, and its legacy continues to influence the development of modern social media platforms.

LiveJournal is a blogging platform that provides the ability to publish personal online diaries, comment on other people's records, conduct collective blogs, and add other users to friends to follow their records in the "friends feed".

Title:

Content: LiveJournal is back in Kazakhstan
519
Anna VLADIMIROVA
Access to the "Live Journal" was restored after the administration of the LiveJournal blog platform executed the decisions of the judicial authorities of Kazakhstan on the removal of illegal materials posted on the resource.
Representatives of LiveJournal reported on the removal from the blogging platform of materials containing signs of propaganda of terrorism and religious extremism, public calls to commit acts of terrorism and the manufacture of explosive devices.
Earlier, the Saryarka court of Astana issued a decision to close access to the “Live Journal ” from August 20, 2011 due to the distribution of these materials.
As a result, the Committee of Communications, Informatization and Information of the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan decided to resume access to the resource on the territory of Kazakhstan from November 11 this year.
LiveJournal also plans to open a representative office in Kazakhstan and develop the Kazakhstan segment of the blogging platform.
For reference: “Live Journal ” is a blogging platform for keeping online diaries (blogs).
Provides the ability to publish your own and comment on other people ’ s records, conduct collective blogs (“communities ”), add other users to friends and follow their records in the“ friends feed ”.
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After Russian users could no longer use foreign social networks, where did they post their blogs?

The platform was founded in 1999 by Brad Fitzpatrick, who initially created the platform as a personal journaling application before transforming it into a website that others could use.

At its peak, LiveJournal had more than 2.5 million active accounts, but its popularity declined over time, with its peak being almost 10 years ago, in early 2005.

The platform's early success can be attributed to its unique features, such as the ability for users to customize their journal's appearance and layout, as well as the option to set different levels of access for friends, family, and the general public.

One of the key features that distinguished LiveJournal from other early blogging platforms was its strong focus on community building, which was facilitated through the use of "friends lists" and comment threads.

The friends list feature allowed users to connect with others who shared similar interests and create a network of like-minded individuals, which helped to foster a sense of community and encourage user engagement.

LiveJournal also introduced the concept of "user icons," which were small images that users could display next to their posts and comments, adding a touch of personality to their online presence.

The platform's comment system, which allowed users to engage in discussions and debates with one another, was also a key factor in building and maintaining a strong sense of community.

The decline of LiveJournal's popularity after 2005 can be attributed to various factors, including changes in user behavior, advancements in technology, and shifts in the social media landscape.

The emergence of new social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, also contributed to LiveJournal's decline, as these platforms offered more innovative and user-friendly interfaces, which attracted many of LiveJournal's users.

LiveJournal's failure to adapt to the changing preferences of its user base, such as the lack of innovation and the inability to effectively address concerns such as spam and privacy, also led to a loss of relevance and decreased user engagement.

The rapid pace of technological progress and the need for continuous innovation in the social media landscape made it challenging for LiveJournal to keep up with the changing times, ultimately contributing to its decline.

Title:

Content: 23 / 06 / 2023 - 13: 25
The rise and fall of social networking sites: major projects that have faded over the past years
In recent years, the Internet has seen the rapid rise and subsequent disappearance of social media platforms, which according to studies can be attributed to the failure to adapt to changing trends, privacy concerns, intense competition, and the emergence of more alternatives.
(Getty)
The rapid development of the digital age has brought many changes to the ways of communication over the past years, as the Internet world has witnessed the rise and fall of various communication sites, platforms that once flourished and flourished but eventually faded into oblivion.
In recent years, the Internet has seen the rapid rise and subsequent disappearance of social media platforms, which according to studies can be attributed to the failure to adapt to changing trends, privacy concerns, intense competition, and the emergence of more alternatives, which also indicate the rapid pace of technological progress and the need for continuous innovation.
MySpace has enjoyed unprecedented popularity during the mid-2000s, providing users with a platform to connect, share media and express themselves creatively, however, the decline of MySpace began when Facebook emerged as a dominant force in the social media landscape, studies show that MySpace failed to adapt to the changing preferences of their user base. This resulted in a loss of relevance and decreased user engagement.
Launched in 2004, Orkut was a pioneer in social networking, particularly in countries such as Brazil and India, and despite its early success, Orkut struggled to combat spam, privacy concerns and the rise of rival platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
As studies indicate, the lack of innovation and failure to address these issues eventually led to their demise in 2014, which also happened with the site "First Messenger" which was once an integral part of the lives of many people on the Internet, allowing users to communicate in real time and facilitate conversations and enhance communication between users. Like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, they have wiped out the site ’ s last hope of survival, amidst this massive and rapid technological development.
In 2011, Google Plus was launched, which was aimed at competing with Facebook and creating a social network within Google ’ s ecosystem, and despite the company ’ s vast resources, it failed to attract a large user base, which led to the fall of the application in 2019, which led to the company ’ s closure of the project due to a decline in the number of users.
In another example, Vine had gained immense popularity with its unique six-second videos, which served as a breeding ground for budding creators and led to numerous viral trends, however, Vine ’ s downfall is attributed to its failure to monetize content effectively, and the emergence of rival and powerful platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Delicious is a harsh example of the fall of a social media platform, where the site faced major challenges due to the lack of effective monetization strategies, and the emergence of new competitors on the platform, which led to a sharp decline in the user base, and ultimately sold and re-launched, under new ownership.

Despite its decline, LiveJournal remains an important part of internet history, and its influence can still be seen in modern social media platforms and online communities.

The technical decisions made by Brad Fitzpatrick during the development of LiveJournal played a significant role in shaping the site's unique features and community, and its legacy continues to be felt in the online world.

What made LiveJournal different from other blogging platforms was its focus on community and user interaction, with features such as comments, friends lists, and user profiles, which allowed users to connect with each other and build relationships.

LiveJournal's unique features, such as friends lists and comment threads, played a significant role in user engagement and community building on the platform, allowing users to connect with others who shared similar interests and engage in discussions.

However, these features also contributed to the platform's decline in popularity, as the rise of other social media platforms offered more streamlined and user-friendly interfaces, drawing users away from LiveJournal.

The platform's failure to adapt to changing user behaviors and technological advancements, such as the shift to mobile devices, also played a significant role in its decline.

LiveJournal's history, which began as a personal journaling application created by Brad Fitzpatrick, highlights the importance of adaptability and innovation in the rapidly evolving social media landscape.

Despite its decline, LiveJournal remains a notable example of the impact of social media on community building and user engagement, and its legacy continues to influence the development of modern social media platforms.


The Middle East is transforming its energy landscape by investing in solar energy to reduce fossil fuel dependence and mitigate climate change.

The Middle East's renewable energy development is driven by economic diversification and reduced oil dependence.

Governments in the region are supporting local solar development, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, and Egypt having high solar potential.

The MENA region has one of the world's highest solar energy potentials, with average annual solar radiation exceeding 2,000.

The UAE is investing Dh600 billion in clean energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Saudi Arabia aims to be carbon neutral by 2060 with new renewable energy projects.

Egypt's Benban solar park and Gulf of Suez wind project are among the Middle East's largest renewable energy projects.

The IFC has approved a $635mn investment to build and operate 11 solar power plants in Egypt with a 500-megawatt capacity.

The Middle East renewable energy market is expected to grow 13.43% annually from 2023 to 2028.

The Arab Clean Energy Initiative targets 80 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from 12 GW in 2013.

The UAE is building a 2GW solar plant in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region, to be ready next year, and Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park has a five-gigawatt capacity.

Energy storage solutions, like batteries, are crucial to stabilize solar energy supply in the region.

DEWA has launched initiatives to promote energy storage solutions, including battery storage at solar power plants, and Saudi Arabia plans to develop large-scale energy storage projects.

The integration of energy storage into solar systems can help the region achieve its climate goals by reducing emissions and fossil fuel reliance.

The Middle East's transition to solar energy is underway, with large-scale projects and strategies supporting renewable energy development.

The Middle East is transforming its energy landscape by investing in solar energy to reduce fossil fuel dependence and mitigate climate change.

Title:

Content: Contribution ｜ Explore Hong Kong ’ s role and opportunities in the development of renewable energy in the Middle East
Author: 01 More Voices
Published: Updated:
In recent years, Hong Kong has actively promoted the development of renewable energy and launched a number of related products in the financial market.
In addition, more and more Hong Kong enterprises have also started to participate in the development of this industry, especially in the financial market, and launched a number of financial products to support the development of renewable energy.
At the same time, many countries in the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Turkey, are also actively engaged in various large-scale projects to promote the development of renewable energy, and expect to see a different energy mix and economic development model in 2030 or 2050.
For Hong Kong, China and other countries, the development opportunities of the Middle East market cannot be ignored, and Hong Kong ’ s participation in this area cannot be underestimated.
Submitted by: Kwong Cheuk-wui
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in several seminars on economic and energy development in the Middle East, and have in-depth exchanges with government representatives in charge of foreign affairs and trade from various Middle Eastern countries and Azerbaijan.
These exchange experiences provide the author with a wealth of insight.
After many in-depth talks, to understand the interest and momentum of the development of renewable energy in many countries in the Middle East, the author synthesized the information from various parties and came to the following insights: The reason why the major oil producers in the Middle East are actively developing renewable energy is to achieve economic diversification and get rid of dependence on oil and related industries.
They hope to turn the country ’ s surplus renewable energy into new, dependable foreign revenues (i.e., revenues generated from natural resource exports; “Rents ”) through innovative technologies.
For other non-oil producing countries, they want to achieve economic sustainability through the development of renewable energy, reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels or electricity imports, and convert renewable energy into new external rental income to boost the country ’ s economic development.
From this, it can be seen that the Middle East countries are very concerned about the development of renewable energy, but also hope to complete the energy transformation as soon as possible, and look forward to renewable energy can produce more and greater economic benefits, create new dependent income, promote economic diversification and modernization, but also benefit thousands of people.
As a result, many countries in the Middle East have invested heavily in and promoted energy transformation and clean energy development.
Although many countries have made extraordinary achievements in driving renewable energy development, they also face many challenges.
Jordan, for example, has a wealth of renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy, as well as state-of-the-art renewable energy laws, regulatory mechanisms and development frameworks.
Earlier this year, Jordan successfully achieved its national roadmap, originally set for 2030, with renewable energy accounting for 31% of total energy.
The Jordanian government also plans to increase this target to 50%, and is committed to building the country into a regional renewable energy development center and exporting environmentally friendly power to neighboring countries to increase the country ’ s foreign revenue.
However, like other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan faces a host of challenges.
These challenges include lagging energy infrastructure, imperfect grid planning, an over-concentration of resources on solar and wind with less focus on geothermal energy, and a lack of energy storage systems and foreign investment.
In addition, there is the debt problem of the national power company.
These difficulties not only affect Jordan ’ s progress in developing renewable energy, but also act as a barrier to modernizing and diversifying the country ’ s economy.
Some Jordanian officials and scholars are concerned about whether the development of renewable energy is progressing as expected.
They are concerned that if the development of renewable energy and its core economic development model are not carried out smoothly, or if the newly set targets are not successfully achieved, the country ’ s economic sustainability will be adversely affected.
At the same time, it can undermine the credibility and governance of the government.
In particular, those political forces that have been opposed to the use of renewable energy to promote economic development and diversification may take the opportunity to launch opposition actions, further endangering the political stability and regional security of the country and the Middle East as a whole.
It is worth noting that these challenges are not only in Jordan, but also in Middle Eastern countries such as Morocco and Egypt.
Other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also made great efforts to develop solar and wind power in recent years, but in addition to the above concerns and challenges, there are also concerns that the development of renewable energy will have some impact on the high dependence of these countries ’ economies on oil and gas markets, which may affect existing incomes and lead to economic and social instability.
Other factors include the huge demand for capital, the need for foreign technology and talents, the need for talent training, economic feasibility, etc. These are also issues of concern to the officials of these Middle Eastern countries.
These challenges are in fact a valuable development opportunity for Hong Kong.
The key is to make good use of our strengths, especially in the Belt and Road Initiative, to work with the Middle East countries to promote renewable energy and green economy development.
This not only helps these countries diversify their economies, but also creates development opportunities for Hong Kong businesses and governments, and indirectly promotes the development of other industries.
I suggest that Hong Kong can establish cooperation platforms and channels of communication with transnational organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, such as the Arab Parliamentary Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Turkic Parliament and the Arab Maghreb Union.
Such a platform could be used to explore free trade agreements and to help Middle Eastern countries provide services such as finance, advisory, legal, education or training, and energy infrastructure.
This will not only help Hong Kong consolidate its leading position in the professional services sector and the financial sector, but will also directly or indirectly create many development opportunities, especially in Islamic finance.
Finally, Hong Kong can consider providing financial support to the Middle East countries by assisting in the issuance of Islamic financial bonds to promote the development of renewable energy, and can also take the opportunity to develop Islamic finance in Hong Kong as a new financial center outside the Islamic world.
Of course, Hong Kong should not only cooperate with major countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates or the above-mentioned multinational organizations and platforms, but also consider other regions with development potential and worthy of investment, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco, etc.
This diverse collaboration will help Hong Kong expand its international presence and contribute to global sustainability in the renewable energy sector.
The author, Mr Kwong Cheuk-rui, is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Group of Ideas, a Master of Arts from the Australian National University, and has worked at the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
Please email us at 01view @ hk01.com.
Please attach the author ’ s real name and contact details.
If not applicable, without prior notice.

The Middle East's renewable energy development is driven by economic diversification and reduced oil dependence.

Governments in the region are supporting local solar development, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, and Egypt having high solar potential.

Title:

Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
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.

The MENA region has one of the world's highest solar energy potentials, with average annual solar radiation exceeding 2,000.

The UAE is investing Dh600 billion in clean energy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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

Beta V.1.0 - Powered by automated translation

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 aims to be carbon neutral by 2060 with new renewable energy projects.

Egypt's Benban solar park and Gulf of Suez wind project are among the Middle East's largest renewable energy projects.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Economy: Benban and the Gulf of Suez are among the largest renewable energy projects
Economic Middle East magazine, which specializes in economics and energy, said that the Benban solar park and the Gulf of Suez wind project in Egypt are considered among the largest renewable energy projects in the Middle East.
Renewable Energy Projects in the Middle East
The Middle East has long relied on oil and gas, not only for revenue but also for power generation, but in the past years, the region has positioned itself as a leader in the renewable energy sector, boasting numerous renewable energy projects.
From 2023 to 2028, Mordor Intelligence expects the renewable energy market in the Middle East to grow by 13.43% annually.
The Arab Clean Energy Initiative was launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and during the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit of 2013, the League of Arab States adopted the initiative, with leaders pledging to increase renewable energy generation capacity in the region from 12 GW in 2013 to 80 GW by 2030.
Benban Solar Park
Located in Aswan, Egypt with a capacity of 1,800 megawatts, Benban Solar Park is valued at $4 billion and includes 41 solar power plants, one of the largest solar PV parks in the world, spanning 37 square kilometers and containing 7 million photovoltaic panels, this initiative is a component of Egypt ’ s Renewable Energy Feed Tariff (FiT) program, which was unveiled in September 2014.
Gulf of Suez Wind Power Project
In November last year, ACWA Power and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) signed a memorandum of understanding, and together they will invest in a 1100 MW wind power project in Jebel Zeit and the Gulf of Suez. The project is one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world, and aims to provide power to more than one million households and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 2.4 million tons.

The IFC has approved a $635mn investment to build and operate 11 solar power plants in Egypt with a 500-megawatt capacity.

Title:

Content: $635mn investment approved to build and operate 11 solar plants in Egypt

By James Henderson
The Board of Executive Directors of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved an investment of $635mn that will help construct, ope...

The Board of Executive Directors of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved an investment of $635mn that will help construct, operate and maintain up to 11 solar power plants in Egypt.

The combined capacity of the plants amount to 500 megawatts, and will be one of the largest private foreign direct investments in the country’s power sector in recent years.

Part of Egypt's landmark solar Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program, the $730mn project in Benban, near Aswan, aims to mobilise private investment to build the world's largest solar photovoltaic generation park, harnessing the country’s vast solar resources.

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As well as helping to spur economic growth, the project will help drive the local economy, including the creation of temporary and long-term jobs and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions

“This landmark investment demonstrates that when you have the right reform policies, and a government willing to allow greater involvement by the private sector, you can attract investors in every sector, including infrastructure,” said Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“Investments like these are the nucleus for economic growth, which is needed in Egypt.”

Egypt’s solar FIT program, which includes projects financed by other institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Proparco, is expected to be one of the largest foreign direct investments in years, attracting investments of up to $2bn.

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The Middle East renewable energy market is expected to grow 13.43% annually from 2023 to 2028.

The Arab Clean Energy Initiative targets 80 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, up from 12 GW in 2013.

The UAE is building a 2GW solar plant in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region, to be ready next year, and Dubai's Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park has a five-gigawatt capacity.

Energy storage solutions, like batteries, are crucial to stabilize solar energy supply in the region.

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Dubai Electricity launches a pilot project to store energy using lithium-ion batteries
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched a pilot project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to store energy using Tesla ’ s Li-ion battery systems with a storage capacity of 1.21 MW, a capacity of 8.61 MWh and a life span of up to 10 years.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, said: “The project is part of DEWA ’ s efforts to diversify energy sources and enhance energy storage technologies. It aims to assess the technical and economic capabilities and characteristics of this technology within the operational framework of solar photovoltaic power plants and to test the role of this technology in integrating clean energy and storage to achieve maximum efficiency and reliability. ”
Al Tayer pointed out that the Authority is working on other storage projects, including the use of concentrated solar energy in the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which combines concentrated solar energy and solar photovoltaic technologies with a capacity of 950 MW and will include the largest solar storage capacity in the world for 15 hours, which will allow the production of power 24 hours. In the Arabian Gulf region, electricity will be produced using water stored in the Hatta Dam with a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh; and the Green Hydrogen project, implemented by DEWA in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens Energy, is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce green hydrogen using solar energy at the R & D facilities of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President, Business Development and Excellence Sector, pointed out that this is the second project launched by the Authority at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, where it launched the first project in cooperation with Amplex Emirates to install and test NaS systems with a storage capacity of 1.2 MW and a capacity of 7.5 MWh.
He explained that the two pilot projects allow the storage of energy from the electricity grid or from solar power stations with the connection of storage systems to the TRA network.

DEWA has launched initiatives to promote energy storage solutions, including battery storage at solar power plants, and Saudi Arabia plans to develop large-scale energy storage projects.

The integration of energy storage into solar systems can help the region achieve its climate goals by reducing emissions and fossil fuel reliance.

The Middle East's transition to solar energy is underway, with large-scale projects and strategies supporting renewable energy development.