Solar power companies globally are intensifying their efforts to capture the attention of stakeholders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a nation notable for its rapid advancements in the renewable energy sector. The UAE is positioning itself as a leading player in solar energy, actively pursuing its goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. At the recent RAK Energy Summit, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, announced plans for the UAE to initiate “one or two” new solar farms each year until the decade's end. This is part of a larger strategy to generate 30 per cent of the nation's energy from clean sources by 2030.
Neil Colquhoun, president of Epson for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Central & West Asia, emphasised the UAE's solar capacity, stating, "The UAE is already home to three of the world’s largest and lowest-cost solar plants, and the country continues to develop its solar sector at a rapid pace." This bullish sentiment on the region's prospects is bolstered by its high solar potential, geographical advantages, and a robust governmental commitment to sustainability.
The current week marked the Big 5 Global event at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where a plethora of international companies, encompassing firms from Greece, India, and the UK, showcased solar-powered solutions. Other notable exhibitions, such as the Solar Expo in Abu Dhabi in April and the World Future Energy Summit in January, are further indicators of interest from global entities in the UAE's renewable energy market.
Christopher Decker, a partner in energy and natural resources at Oliver Wyman, noted the UAE's unique combination of high solar irradiation and a transparent regulatory framework. He explained, "This synergy has positioned the UAE as a regional leader, not only in advancing solar power but also in driving decarbonisation and economic diversification." However, Decker also pointed out challenges facing the solar photovoltaic supply chain, which has encountered pressures leading to increased project costs and delays. He remarked that "the primary challenge for developers is remaining competitive in a market that attracts top-tier international developers and well-established local renewable energy leaders."
Emerging technologies, such as the Solar+ Tile unveiled by London-based start-up Pavegen at the Big 5 Global, are indicative of innovation in the field. Founder Laurence Kemball-Cook relayed to The National the company's insights into the climatic conditions of the UAE, stating, "There’s always been really strong demand from the UAE for our product." The new hybrid design, which combines a kinetic tile that generates energy from footsteps with solar power, can produce significantly more energy under optimal conditions.
Pavegen's original kinetic tiles have been employed in various locations globally, including the UK and Washington DC, to provide power for LED lights and information displays. The newest Solar+ Tile can generate up to 30 times the power of its predecessor, harnessing both solar energy during the day and kinetic energy from foot traffic at night. Kemball-Cook anticipates forming partnerships with local institutions in Dubai to expand usage of this technology, envisioning Pavegen tiles as integral to the UAE's future solar-powered community infrastructure.
The UAE's commitment to solar energy extends to other ambitious projects as well. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, projected to achieve a production capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, exemplifies the side of large-scale commitments to renewable local energy sources. Additionally, recent collaborations have been announced to enable residential solar panels across the Northern Emirates, allowing homes, businesses, and farms to contribute to the grid by generating their own power.
As the global push for renewable energy continues to accelerate, with pledges made during recent international talks, forecasts indicate a notable upsurge in solar power installations. Research organisation Ember reports that 29 per cent more solar power capacity was installed in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2022. If this momentum persists, new solar power installations could total approximately 593 gigawatts in 2024, reinforcing the UAE's status as a burgeoning hub for solar energy innovation and collaboration.
Source: Noah Wire Services