The region around the Mediterranean and North Africa [MENA] and its nations have the capability to power the entire world three times over if they could harness their solar energy. Israel was the lone nation left off a map of this report.
These MENA nations, as they are so often called, have huge solar power potential. Those countries that adapt quickly take a keen advantage over their competition. This is particularly true of the nations occupying the Arabian Peninsula and countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and also Israel. These nations already have a leg up in solar technology, specifically Israel, which is the leading solar power developer in the mid east region. The UN actually asked Israel if it could increase its solar energy growth. Inspite of being an innovative solar power source, Israel itself is slow to implement solar energy generation within its own borders, its progress likened to that of a developing country.
Experts agree that the MENA nations have the most potential for generating solar power, providing for forty five percent of the world’s energy requirements possible via sustainable energy. Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is a locale of interest as it also plays host to the World Renewable Energy Agency Headquarters. Called IRENA, this organization has the ability to spark growth in the entire area.
The chief issue at play here is the sporadic at best funding of renewable power programs because of the abundant oil reserves and other fossil fuel options according to insiders who made the admission while in Copenhagen. The renewable ventures in the MENA area either are underfunded or are given no money whatsoever, partially due to the fossil fuel stocks.
With that said, those countries in the region that focus on renewable energy development utilizing solar and wind energy potential will have an enormous advantage if they make the move to benefit from them.
The cry for more energy, preferably the renewable variety, will mean these MENA nations must resort to developing their renewables footprint, specifically the use of solar power, as expeditiously as possible to cover off this rising demand. It has been estimated that eighty to ninety Gigawatts of power would be required.
The world need will demand this amount and the MENA nations will be able to satisfy this call with solar power and other forms of renewables.
What Can We Wring Out Of The Sun?
The most popular forms of solar power production are photovoltaic [PV] cells and concentrated solar power or [CSP]. CSP utilizes mirrors and lenses to focus the sun’s rays, tracking old Saul to get the most from him daily. Israeli manufacturers like Zenith Solar and Aora Solar are using this technology.
The CSP technology is used in mega solar power facilities that provide for the masses, supplying the grid while PV solar units are utilized more by less ambitious power facilities based on news media reports out of the region. A major issue for mega solar production in the desert region of MENA nations is the sandstorms and related dust trouble which impacts in poor efficiency of solar lenses, mirrors and PV panel technologies.
The Masdar City initiative in Abu Dhabi is going to be heavily utilizing PV panels on a massive scale. Numerous lesser programs using solar panels are also in development throughout the area.
If the MENA nations could only upgrade their use of solar power technology, it would free up more fossil fuel exporting only augmenting the reputations of the oil producing nations as mega energy producers and exporters. This is according to a regional energy expert who concluded by saying that doing this now when supplies are limited globally would only expand their position.
Backing up fossil fuel exports with renewable power would increase the value of the regions oil exports. No doubt, that oil and natural gas will live on as the foremost source of energy for the near future. Additionally, the OPEC nation’s part in global supply is forecast to rise from today’s total of forty two percent of world oil supply to fifty two percent inside twenty years.
Due to touchy political issues, solar power technology collaboration among these MENA countries and the global innovator Israel could be exceedingly advantageous for these nations over time. There is every hope that this is already occurring behind the curtain – out of the sunlight!
Both CSP and PV cell technology could be implemented in a big way within this region. The Masdar project only recently approved the initial large scale PV solar array mega project in the region. Less significant designs are already spreading throughout the MENA region but mainly in remote rural locations away from the grid.
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