Ambitious solar energy plans in Middle East and North Africa

Solar Power Rises in the Mideast, North Africa,?CNBC, 7 June 12,???.A number of recent developments highlight the push for renewable?energy in the MENA region, from Saudi Arabia?s ambitious solar plans?to Qatar?s first-ever polysilicon plant and massive concentrated solar?power plants across North Africa.

In May, the Saudi government peaked interest in its solar energy scene
by announcing that the kingdom planned to install 41 gigawatts, GW, of
solar systems by 2032, and to build up wind, geothermal, and nuclear
energy sources.

In Qatar, banks have given new impetus to the country?s-solar energy
ambitions, financing the construction of the first solar-grade
polysilicon production plant to the tune of $1.1 billion?..
In Iran, the government has announced plans for a 5 megawatt, MW,
pilot geothermal energy project, and is setting its sights on an
increase of 12,000MW renewable energy.

Bahrain is also stepping onto the solar scene. On 31 May, it announced
plans to construct a solar smart grid in Awali, which will have a 5MW
solar capacity operated by a wireless smart grid network. Similar
efforts are being considered in Jordan.

One of the first major Middle East renewable-energy projects
originated in the United Arab Emirates, in the form of the
construction of a massive city, Masdar City, in the desert that
focuses on renewable energy, including electric public transportation.

In North Africa, Morocco has led the renewable energy race, first in
2009 with a $9 billion investment in a national solar plan that aims
to eventually provide nearly 40 percent of the country?s energy needs,
and second through an ambitious concentrated solar power, CSP,
project.
CSP, as opposed to solar panel installation (photovoltaics, or PV), is
undertaken at massive plants where sunlight is converted into heat,
which in turn drives a steam turbine that generates electricity. It is
this sector that has vast potential in the Middle East and North
Africa, and there are some ambitious projects in the works.

One of those projects is a series of massive solar power farms
spanning the Middle East and North Africa.

Two projects under this Desertec umbrella are Morocco?s Ouarzazate
Concentrated Solar Power plant, which was approved in late 2011, and
Tunisia?s TuNur Concentrated Solar Power Plant, which was approved in
January 2012.

The Moroccan plant will have a 500-MW capacity, while the Tunisia
plant will have a 2GW capacity. TuNur would be the largest ever
thermal power plant and would be capable of producing twice as much
energy as the average nuclear power plant.

Desertec?s CSP plants would supply energy to the MENA region and
export excess energy to Europe. At the same time, given the mounting
water crisis in the region, the desalinated water produced during the
solar energy process could be distributed to areas in need,
particularly Egypt?..
Solar investors in Spain, German, Italy and the United Kingdom are
increasingly open to seeking opportunities outside Europe in order to
survive in a potentially zero-subsidy environment.

On this level, the Middle East is highly attractive. North Africa is
less so, due to regulatory ambiguities and stability concerns, but the
potential is vast for anyone willing to take the risk.?http://www.cnbc.com/id/47723119

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June 8, 2012 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | MIDDLE EAST, renewable

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