|
January 2015 - issue 1501
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Feature article: DEWA's rockbottom solar bids: the real story
Record-low tariffs have been offered for Dubai's 100 MW PV project, raising questions to whether such prices accurately represent the global market and the future of solar projects.
| |
|
As an independent power project and the largest of its size to be planned within the Middle East, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) 100 PV power plant attracted some of the biggest names in the solar industry, with bids as low as $0.598/kWh and $0.612/kWh.
The unprecedented bids, made by Acwa Power and a consortium led by Fotowatio Renewables respectively, were among the 10 offers shortlisted by DEWA last November.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
SOLAR GCC ALLIANCE NEWS
| | |
|
|
|
Publisher's Note: Solar remains strong as oil hits historic lows
|
Analysts predict surge of solar demand as high as 25% in 2015
As the new year begins, the burning question in the minds of many solar industry watchers continues to be the impact the rapid decline in oil prices, which have dropped by more than half since June, will have on the solar industry in general and more specifically on the GCC region.
According to Bloomberg, Brent futures for February settlement recently fell 19 cents to $50.96 a barrel - the lowest close since April 2009 - and analysts predict a global supply glut will continue at least through mid-2015.
We continue to believe oil's weakness will accelerate economic trends that strengthen the case for solar and other renewables - both in the MENA region and worldwide - and we're not alone. In countries where cheaper oil spurs economic growth, the time is ripe for expansion of renewable energy, especially as the cost of solar panels also continues to fall. At the same time, current economic conditions recently prompted the IMF to state that oil's decline highlights the need for oil-rich Gulf States to diversify their economies.
While these historic lows have spooked some investors unfamiliar with the solar market, creating temporary slumps in the stock value of some renewable companies, there is very little correlation between oil prices, which are driven largely by transportation, and the global solar market, which primarily competes with the costs of coal and natural gas. In fact, savvy investors are taking advantage of current stock declines to purchase shares of leading solar firms at bargain prices. For an excellent discussion of current market conditions, check out Greentech Media's recent podcast on the oil price drop.
A key sign of oil's minimal impact is worldwide solar demand, which shows no signs of slowing. According to EnergyTrend, a research division of TrendForce Corporation, global solar demand is projected to grow 16.5% overall to 51.4GW, with rates as high as 40% in emerging markets. Marketing research firm IHS is predicting even higher growth in 2015 - global increases of 25% for solar PV and 37% for concentrated photovoltaic (CPV).
More vital in the GCC region itself is the reaction of major economies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of which have made it clear that no major budget cuts are forthcoming in 2015, thanks to plentiful reserves of foreign assets. The next major question is whether or not new plans for solar will be announced by government officials in conjunction with the forthcoming Saudi Water and Power Forum 2015 (SWPF) in Riyadh on 12-14 January and the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi on 19-22 January.
We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you at WFES, whether at our Members' Pavilion (Stand # 7320), the Solar Visionary's Reception we're co-hosting with several of our partner organizations, or elsewhere on the show floor.
Happy New Year
Browning Rockwell
Executive Director, Solar GCC Alliance
|
|
Solar GCC Alliance Update
|
Solar Careers in the MENA/GCC Region portal
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.
|
|
Solar GCC Alliance in the News
|
The Solar GCC Alliance is in the process of forming an Egyptian affiliate, to be known as the Egypt Solar Industry Association (Egypt-SIA). This organization will seek to create new solar energy business and employment opportunities in Egypt and enable collaboration opportunities throughout the GCC region.
|
|
SASIA in the News
|
Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association announces technical partnership with ISFOC (CPV) and German CSP Association
(El Instituto de Sistemas Fotovoltaicos de Concentracion) is a society incorporated in the Instituto de Finanzas of Catilla la Mancha Grorp. ISFOC is the result of an R&D plan promoted by the Department of Education and Science from the Castilla la Mancha Goverment and the Institute of Solar Energy from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. This project was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (Currently Ministry of Science and Innovation).
The German Association for Concentrated Solar Power was established in September 2013 to join the forces and interests of market players in Germany and enhance their chances in international markets. Its members include consulting and engineering companies, manufacturers of components, owners and operators of power plants as well as research institutions. The organization's portfolio covers the whole CSP value chain
|
|
Solar Trade Leads and Tenders Bulletin Board
| |
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
| |
SASIA Breakfast Briefing,
January 15, 2015,
Topic: Solar Diesel Hybrid Solutions for Self Consumption Energy Production
Join us for the forum and post event networking reception
Solar Visionary Reception
|
 | | Watch the Video Now ! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REGIONAL & GLOBAL SOLAR NEWS
| | |
|
|
|
Global - MENA - GCC countries:
IHS: Top 10 predictions for global PV market in 2015
Market research firm IHS forecasts that global PV demand will rise 25% this year while installation demand will grow at double-digit rates as installations reach approximately 55 GW.
|
The firm points out that while 2014 remained a challenging time for the PV industry, "it marked an inflection point in the market's development." According to a new IHS white paper, solar PV demand grew at a double-digit pace, largely due to policies in China and Japan; conditions remained extremely tough for suppliers, however.
"Through mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies, the supplier base consolidated further, as companies struggled with debt-laden balance sheets and a rapid shift in their customer base away from their traditional markets," said Ash Sharma, senior research director for solar at IHS. "All signs point to a strengthening recovery of the solar industry in 2015, even if the recovery itself remains incredibly fragile."
|
SEC starts work on 'Green Duba' power plant
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has launched the construction of a 600MW Integrated Solar Combined-Cycle (ISCC) gas power plant project in the western Red Sea port of Duba, Saudi Arabia
"This is an integrated project, which will integrate a parabolic trough Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) unit of about 50MW," said Ziad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha, CEO of SEC .
The project, dubbed 'Green Duba', is one of the world's largest projects of its kind and will be completed after three years, said the Arabic daily Al Madina. Saudi Aramco, the government-owned oil producing company, will supply the gas for the plant, said Al-Shiha. Al-Shiha did not mention the project cost but added it is part of the $32bn (120bn riyals) portfolio power projects undertaken by SEC .
| |
|
 Solar power picking up pace - solar rooftop program approved
Experts have welcomed a new ruling that will allow residents to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes and businesses and sell the energy generated back to the emirate's power grid.
|
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Executive Council, passed the resolution on solar energy distribution in Dubai on Monday, which is hoped to greatly encourage the use of solar power across the emirate and the region.
The move will provide a "stable and reliable" framework with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) that allows residents and businesses to "securely and reliably" generate solar power that can be fed into the electricity grid
|
Jordan builds 21 MW solar power plant in Mann governorate
Jordan on Saturday granted a license to build a solar-run power plant in south of the Kingdom.
The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) granted a license to Falcon Maan for Solar Energy to build a 21 megawatts solar-run power plant in Maan governorate, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiari said in a statement.
The total investment in the plant, which was granted a 20-year license, stands at 51 million U.S. dollars, the commissioner said. Jordan, which imports 97 percent of its energy needs annually, is implementing a strategy to increase the contribution of renewable energy to ten percent in the overall energy mix by 2020.
| |
|
Germany provides additional $800 million loan for Moroccan solar park
|
The German federal government is providing additional backing for the construction of one of the world's largest solar power complexes, which will have a total capacity of 560 MW when completed.
The support is part of Germany's efforts to push for international climate protection and the development of renewable energy in North Africa.
Other funding partners include the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union and the World Bank. The newly signed loan agreements for the second and third power plant solar complex - Noor II and III - comprise a total of €1.4 billion.
|
|
Power swap on cards for Gulf countries
|
Gulf countries will by the first quarter of next year have agreed a deal to pay for shared energy with energy instead of cash, paving the way for further interconnectivity of regional power grids
Currently electricity prices across the Gulf are different in each country because of energy subsidies - a significant challenge to the sharing of power across borders to meet rising regional consumption.
"We are doing negotiations and final discussions regarding signing the contracts for bilateral trading in kind, energy-for-energy. We hope to commission the first one in the first quarter of 2015," said Ahmed Al-Ebrahim, the chief operating officer at the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA).
|
Renewables need not fear falling oil prices
"The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun," said the US consumer advocate Ralph Nader and one-time presidential candidate back in 1980. Now, falling prices for both oil and solar panels may put his theory to the test.
Acwa Power's astonishingly low bid for the second phase of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid solar park in Dubai would equate to a conventional power plant burning oil priced at less than $20 per barrel. Renewable energy in the right locations - solar power in the Middle East, and onshore wind in north-west Europe, the United States' Midwest or the Red Sea coast - has already won the cost competition with oil. So the falling oil price makes no difference to the uptake of renewable energy. Indeed, if a lower oil price spurs economic growth, it might even lead to more installation of renewable energy, in absolute if not relative terms.
| |
|
|
|
|
CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS
| | |
|
|
|
Featured Event - 2015 Solar & Energy Storage Forum
and Solar Industry Networking Reception @ WFES
|
January 19 , 2015
Abu Dhabi - U.A.E. 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Live Panel discussion - Stand # 7320
To be broadcast on SolarPV.Tv
The Solar GCC Alliance, Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Association (SASIA) , SolarUnited, and the Energy Storage Journal are organizing panel discussion on January 19, 2015 during the first day of the WFES 2015.
Solar Visionary Reception@WFES 
January 19th - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Aloft Hotel Rooftop, Abu Dhabi
hosted by Solar GCC Alliance, SASIA, SolarUnited and SolarPV.Tv
Register Now -
Exclusive Invitation Only C-Level Event
Solar is on the cusp of disrupting the worlds largest industry. Solar capacity has been growing more than 40% per year for decades while improving unit costs by hundreds or even thousands of times relative to conventional energy. At this rate solar will be the worlds main energy source before 2030.
Guest Speaker - Tony Seba, Stanford lecturer, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author of Solar Trillions and Clean Disruption
This invitation only C-level meeting combines industry experts, solar and CleanTech industry leaders together with the financial and investor community that are active in the MENA region.
SASIA , SolarGCC & SolarUnited members - AED 300
Non-members - AED 450
Visit the Solar GCC Alliance, SASIA, SolarUnited Members Pavilion @WFES 2015
Stand # 7320 - adjacent to First Solar
|
|
|
|
|
|
www.solargcc.com
Published by - Solar GCC Alliance
P.O. Box 16111 , RAK, U.A.E.
Email: info@solargcc.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
Warning: Although the company has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments.
Copyright © 2014 - 2015 Solar GCC Alliance. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
