Solar Energy

World’s Cheapest Power Project: A milestone shift to solar electricity generation?

Saudi Arabia recently registered the cheapest price bid to supply solar electricity ever recorded. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar and Electricite de France SA bid to supply power from a 300-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) plant for as cheap as 1.79 cents a kilowatt hour. If the project is successfully awarded by the Ministry of Renewable Energy Project Development, it would top the leader board beating the previous record for a solar project in Abu Dhabi for 2.42 cents a kilowatt-hour. It is a...

الاتجاه صَوب مصادر الطاقة المتجددة – أين تَكمن المشكلة؟

The total power generated through renewables in the GCC has grown from a meagre 20 GWh in 2010 to 620 GWh in 2015. But looking at the bigger picture, it constitutes to less than 1% of the total power generated in the region while the global figure is at 23.3%. Europe and North America stand at 34.2% and 22% respectively in 2016 with Norway leading the way with 97.87%. Norway has long been a pioneer in renewables with focus on...

Solar Energy in the GCC

According to a Ifri-Markaz report published in 2012 called ‘Powering Kuwait into the 21st Century: Alternatives for Power Generation’, it was pointed out that the GCC region is facing gas shortages and Kuwait ranks independency of supply among its policy priorities, renewable, and in particular solar have their own place in the power mix. The paper also called for further fleshing out the renewable energies target in Kuwait with more specifics. Moreover, the concept was highlighted that the gradual introduction...

Alternative Energy in Fossil Fuel Rich GCC Countries

The consumption of energy in GCC is driven by high level of urbanization, growing expatriates, fuel subsidises and industrialization. The continuous growth in energy consumption is snowballing into a major issue, as GCC countries are finding it difficult to suffice their own needs. According to World Energy Council, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to require 100 GW of additional power in next ten years to suffice their domestic consumption requirements. GCC countries per capita power consumption is amongst the...