MENA Solar Brief
September 2014 - issue 1408
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Feature article: 
Solar-diesel hybrids: the perfect fit for Saudi Arabia's energy dilemma
PV inverters offer significant diesel fuel savings for off-grid applications in Saudi Arabia.
Advancements in solar inverters and expensive diesel costs have made a winning business case for photovoltaic (PV) hybrid solutions across the world's remote areas. In Saudi Arabia, the world's second-largest producer of crude oil, the appeal is even greater because PV-diesel hybridization can drive significant reductions in fuel consumption with direct cost savings.

 

 

SOLAR GCC ALLIANCE NEWS
Economic Case for Solar Growing in GCC
Solar expansion certain, harder transition for those who wait.

The business case for solar development has rarely been better in the GCC region. Interest in solar's proven economic benefits has been growing rapidly for more than five years, cost-competitiveness is being demonstrated and we're no longer waiting for technology to catch up to our dreams. All that remains is for regional leaders to put their full support behind solar initiatives. There are even signs that regional businesses are willing to move ahead on their own where they can.

Uncertainty continues to dominate international news coverage. Even as the International Energy Agency (IEA) releases a new report warning of growing risks to the deployment of renewables over the medium term, the world's largest private bank is predicting large-scale power stations will be replaced by solar technology within 10-20 years. There are compelling arguments for both of these outcomes, and much will depend on the actions of GCC leaders in the short term.

Saudi Arabia's decision last month to open its stock market to foreign investors next year is a clear and promising sign of the Kingdom's desire to diversify its economy away from oil. Foreign investors will be watching for results from the second Desert Solar Saudi Arabia conference, to be held 17-18 September. Strong positive news from that event could spur economic support and accelerate the transition.

Even without official announcements from K.A. CARE about utility-scale solar projects, interest in off-grid and hybrid solar systems in Saudia Arabia is also on the rise. With diesel subsidies in the Kingdom already around $1 billion, solar offers a compelling fuel savings alternative to businesses and other organizations that rely on diesel generators. This theme will be prevalent at a number of events to be held in Saudi Arabia in the next two weeks.

Progress is also underway in the UAE as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) moves forward with the second phase of the tender for the 100 MW-Phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. A shortlist of 24 developers has been released, with new bids due by 23 October of this year.

 

Jordan remains committed to the renewable energy targets set for 2020, despite the financial setbacks reported last month. In an effort to keep momentum going, the country has issued an open Call for Proposals under the EU Sector Policy Support Programme. See the Jordan section below for more details.

 

This month we're pleased to announce several new resources. The first is the re-launch of a new and improved version of the Solar GCC Alliance Jobs Portal, making it easier than ever for employers and qualified candidates in the region to connect with one another. We've also launched the Solar GCC LinkedIn Professionals Group, a great place to build relationships and network with others on the front lines of the solar industry in the GCC / MENA region.

 

On November 17 - 21, the Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Assiciation (SASIA) will host a Solar Trade Mission to Spain in conjunction with the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF). Though our partnership with SASIA, this event is also open to delegates from other GCC countries. For more information, download the programme flyer or contact us at [email protected].

 

We look forward to meeting or reconnecting with you at Desert Solar Saudi Arabia and other upcoming events. Visit our booth or contact us at [email protected] to learn more about opportunities for your solar organization to collaborate and thrive in the GCC region.  


Best regards, 
 
Browning Rockwell
Executive Director, Solar GCC Alliance
 
Solar GCC Alliance Update 

 

Solar Careers in the MENA/GCC Region portal launched

 

The Solar GCC Alliance Jobs Portal is your source for opportunities in the GCC's growing solar industry. Click below to find jobs or qualified candidates.

 

SASIA in the News
Madrid, Spain: November 17th - 21st, 2014


The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), in collaboration with the Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Assiciation (SASIA), is holding a Trade Mission to identify potential investment and partnering opportunities between Saudi and Spanish companies. This Mission, which will include face-to-face meetings as part of the Spanish Solar Forum hosted by UNEF, will encourage Spanish and Saudi stakeholders to share experiences and will present an excellent opportunity to discuss PV technology, successful strategies, and develop partnerships for joint projects. All Solar GCC Alliance country representatives are welcome. 
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
 
September 14 - 18, 2014

"The most effective way to build partnerships in Saudi Arabia"
September 17-18, 2014

Exploring the solar market opportunities for PV, CSP and CPV technologies during this unique Conference & Exhibition
Solar &Energy Storage Forum - Dubai , U.A.E.
November 5, 2014

Empowering successful and profitable MENA solar utilities.
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REGIONAL & GLOBAL SOLAR NEWS
Global - MENA - GCC countries: 

World's largest private bank predicts solar-led power revolution


UBS Bank believes large-scale power stations will be redundant within 10-20 years, with solar technology taking their place as chief power source.

  

Electricity pylons and power lines at orange sunset.

Zurich's UBS Bank - the largest private bank in the world - has this week issued an extraordinary briefing paper to its clients and investors, advising them that "large-scale, centralized power stations" are 10-20 years away from extinction, and has backed solar PV as the power source most likely to rise to the fore.

The bank's leading analysts expect solar technologies, cheaper storage and the rise in electric vehicles to ring the death knell for big power stations in Europe, with the transition likely to be complete within 20 years.

 

Centralized power stations, the briefing said, are too big and inflexible to continue to service the power needs of future generations. The authors of the report instead suggest that househoulds and businesses will increasingly find it cheaper and easier to generate and store their own power - even without subsidies.


 

How the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Could Rule Energy for the Next 100 Years

Last month, Saudi Arabia announced that it planned to open its stock market to direct foreign investment for the first time, beginning in January 2015. The move is part of a concentrated effort to diversify the Kingdom's economy away from oil, and the government is counting on foreign investment to foster economic growth and speed up the transition. 

 

The Saudi government is planning to do its part as well, by issuing the most ambitious target for solar power generation in the world. If the country succeeds, energy innovation may gush from the Middle East similar to the way oil does today. In 2013, Saudi Arabia's oil production reaped $274 billion for the country's coffers. The oil sold makes up 90% of the country's exports and accounts for 80% of its budget revenue. It is a textbook petrostate, and that is becoming a massive problem.

 

If Saudi Arabia continued to consume petroleum at the rate it did in the 1980s, we wouldn't be having this conversation, but its economy is burgeoning -- now one of the best performing G20 economies -- and oil consumption is climbing steadily while production is more or less holding flat:

 

DEWA releases tender for solar park expansion

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has released a tender for the 100 MW-Phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to qualified Independent Power Producer (IPP) developers. 

 

Forty nine companies submitted documents for the qualification process which was released last May. DEWA has shortlisted 24 developers for the second phase of the tender and the deadline for submitting the bids is 23 October 2014.

 

"We are committed to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to diversify the energy mix in Dubai," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. The Solar Park is one of the biggest renewable-energy projects in the region at a cost of AED 12bn and will eventually produce 1,000 megawatts upon completion. 

 

 

Call for Proposals on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Demonstration Projects in Jordan

 

The Government of Jordan through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) is announcing the launch of an open Call for Proposals on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Demonstration Projects (Call for Proposals) under the EU Sector Policy Support Programme.

  

The global objective for this Call for Proposals is to contribute to the development and implementation of effective policies and tools that will help Jordan to reach the renewable energy and energy efficiency goals set by the Government strategic guidelines for 2020.

The sectors eligible for grant under the present Call for Proposals are:

  • Public Sector
  • Private Sector
  • Local Government / Municipalities
  • Non Profit Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Academic and Research Institutions.

The minimum level of grant is EUR 200,000 with the maximum level of grant being EUR 750,000. The actions which can benefit from a grant are actions contributing to the increase in energy efficiency, energy savings and renewable energy sources and to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The deadline for submission of applications is 7 October 2014. 

North Africa looks to pump cash into energy sector

Installed power capacity in North African countries is expected to nearly double in by 2020, as governments look to pump massive investments in the sector, according to industry estimates.

Morocco Solar Industry Assoc

Total power installed capacity in the region amounted to 61,623.3 megawatts (MW) in 2012 and that number could reach at least 120,000MW in 2020, according to Frost & Sullivan, a management consultancy.

 

Much will depend, however, on political stability in the region that has wreaked havoc across the area. Egypt, Libya and Tunisia have seen massive upheavals over the past three years, while the Moroccan and Algerian governments have also faced dissent and some political tensions.

 
Kuwait eyes alternative energy to meet growing demand - Solar power station ready by 2016

Kuwait is embarking a number of ambitious projects to expand use of alternative energy sources to meet the growing demand for electricity and secure sustainable development. The efforts exerted in this regard are spearheaded by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) which has recently launched three projects for producing power from renewable energy sources

"The three power projects include a thermal station with a capacity of 50 MW, photovoltaic solar station with capacity of 10 MW and the wind power station with a capacity of 10 MW, Director of the renewable energy program at KISR," Dr Salem Hajraf told KUNA yesterday. He added that the stations will feed the national electricity grid directly. "These projects or stations will help ease the pressure on the conventional power plants in the summer season," he said.

 

Kuwaiti government has taken serious steps towards making the best use of clean energy sources. "The Ministry of Electricity and Water and KISR have agreed on the establishment of a solar power station in Al-Shaqaya area with a total capacity of 70 MW per hour, to start operation by 2016," Al-Hajraf unveiled.

 

Renewable energy projects reviewed

 

Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza received here the Chief Executive of the Caspian Renewable Energy, Inc Marty Youssefiani.

He informed about the company's project to generate electricity through solar energy from three sites in Bahrain, including Bahrain Refinery, Awali and the University of Bahrain, and its success in this regard.

 

He asserted that the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) had provided the company with all facilities in order to ensure the success of linking electricity production sites to its distribution network. 

 

CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS
Featured Event
SASIA & Solarplaza host 2nd Annual Desert Solar Conference & Exhibition 
September 17 - 18 - Riyadh, KSA

"The perfect way to discover, evaluate and build partnerships in the Saudi Arabia solar market" 

Desert Solar Conference & Exhibition - Event details - click here

World Future Energy Summit 2015 
January 19 - 22, 2015
Power-Gen Middle East Oct 12-14, 2014
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. 

Solar GCC Alliance Jobs Portal

Solar Jobs * Qualified Candidates * GCC/MENA

 

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Driving Qatar's Solar Energy Future Today  17 - 18 November 2014, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
West Bay Lagoon - Qatar

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