Renewable Energy in the GCC Countries Resources, Potential, and Prospects Renewable Energy in the GCC Countries Resources, Potential, and Prospects Imen Jeridi Bachellerie Gulf Research Center The cover image shows the Beam Down Pilot Project at Masdar City. Photo Credit: Masdar City Gulf Research Center E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.grc.net First published March 2012 Gulf Research Center © Gulf Research Center 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Gulf Research Center. ISBN: 978-9948-490-05-0 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author alone and do not necessarily state or reflect the opinions or position of the Gulf Research Center or the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. By publishing this volume, the Gulf Research Center (GRC) seeks to contribute to the enrichment of the reader’s knowledge out of the Center’s strong conviction that ‘knowledge is for all.’ Dr. Abdulaziz O. Sager Chairman Gulf Research Center About the Gulf Research Center The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is an independent research institute founded in July 2000 by Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, a Saudi businessman, who realized, in a world of rapid political, social and economic change, the importance of pursuing politically neutral and academically sound research about the Gulf region and disseminating the knowledge obtained as widely as possible. The Center is a non-partisan think-tank, education service provider and consultancy specializing in the Gulf region. The GRC seeks to provide a better understanding of the challenges and prospects of the Gulf region. To the memory of my father To my husband, for his patience and support Contents Acknowledgments......................................................................................15 List of Abbreviations..........................................................................................16 Units............................................................................................................19 Introduction................................................................................21 1. Bahrain.......................................................................................................25 Overview: Electricity and Water Sector..............................................................25 Mounting Gas Consumption................................................................................29 Sustainability and CO2 Emissions.......................................................................32 Potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)...................................................34 Solar Energy...............................................................................................35 Prospects for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).................................36 Wind Energy..............................................................................................38 Hesitant Steps towards Renewable Energy...........................................................40 Targets and Projected Deployments..............................................................40 Eco-friendly Investments and Strategies......................................................43 Subsidies and Regulatory Frameworks..........................................................44 2. Kuwait.........................................................................................................47 Electricity and Water: Rapid Expansion and the Energy Efficiency Imperative..........47 Energy Conservation and Environmental Measures............................................52 Potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)..................................................56 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)................................................................56 Photovoltaic Energy....................................................................................57 Wind Energy..............................................................................................58 Research and Development (R&D)..................................................................59 Studies and Demonstration Projects .......................................................59 Cost of Renewable Energy..........................................................................61 Grid-connected Renewable Energy..............................................................62 Policies and Future Deployments........................................................................63 Targets...............................................................................................63 Renewable Energy in the Oil Sector.............................................................65 Potential of Thermal Solar Power..............................................................66 Prospects of Energy Conservation in Buildings............................................67 Investments...................................................................................................69 Education, Vocational Training, and Technical Awareness....................................70 Renewable Energy Outlook..................................................................................72 3. Oman...........................................................................................................75 Electricity Expansion and Restructuring..........................................................75 Increasing Demand for Desalinated Water.......................................................79 Gas Shortfalls and Economic Expansion.........................................................79 Industrialization and Protection of the Environment.........................................81 Potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)...................................................83 Photovoltaic Energy....................................................................................83 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP ).............................................................85 Solar Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery........................................................86 Wind Energy..............................................................................................88 Solar and Wind Pilot Projects..............................................................................91 Renewable Power for Remote Locations .....................................................92 Large-scale Renewable Energy Deployment and Market Aspects ..................94 Education, R&D, and Industry............................................................................96 Towards Public-Private Partnerships in RE.........................................................99 4. Qatar..........................................................................................................101 Electricity Surplus and Export Prospects.........................................................101 Water Stress........................................................................................................104 Mounting Gas Consumption.............................................................................105 Pressure on the Environment.............................................................................108 Potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)..................................................110 Solar Energy............................................................................................110 Wind Energy............................................................................................111 Industry-University Linkages and R&D..........................................................112 Photovoltaic Manufacturing..............................................................................116 Early Stages of Renewable Energy Deployment................................................117 Prospects for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).................................119 Sustainability, Policies, and Incentives................................................................121 5. Saudi Arabia..........................................................................................125 Electricity: Urbanization and Growing Demand................................................125 Water Scarcity....................................................................................................129 Gas Shortages and the Energy Efficiency Imperative..................................130 Potential of Renewable Energy Sources (RES).................................................133 Photovoltaic Energy..................................................................................135 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP).............................................................137 Wind Energy...........................................................................................138 Research and Development (R&D)...................................................................142 Background......................................................................................142 New R&D Activities and Research Centers..............................................143 Photovoltaic Manufacturing..............................................................................148 Targets, Policies, and Market Potential.............................................................150