4 THE RISE OF RENEWABLES IN THE GULF STATES …
99
Table 4.1 Renewable energy deployment for power generation in GCC states
by end of 2019, in MW of installed capacity
Solar
photovoltaic
(PV)
Concentrated
solar power
(CSP)
Wind
Biomass and
waste
Total
renewable
energy (RE)
Bahrain
6
0
1
0
7
Kuwait
43
50
12
0
105
Oman
8
0
0
0
8
Qatar
5
0
0
38
43
Saudi Arabia
344
50
3
0
397
UAE
1783
100
1
1
1885
exception, where most of the renewable energy capacity has been developed as part of a waste to energy plant at the Domestic Solid Waste
Management Centre (DSWMC).
Going forward, it appears that states in the region will double down
on this technology preference, with solar PV still representing more
than three-quarters of short-term planned capacity additions. Countries
with strong wind resources, however, notably Saudi Arabia and Oman,
are also planning their first large-scale onshore wind deployments for
2020. Oman’s plans over the next two years are noteworthy, standing
out from other states in the region with a strong focus on solar thermal
technology. The latter represents more than 50% of planned capacity additions, though not technically in the power sector. As discussed in the
previous section, Oman’s deployment of solar thermal for enhanced oil
recovery (EOR) is a continuation of a trend that was set in motion as
early as 2010, and was made more likely following investments made by
the state in its technology partner, Glasspoint, in 2014. 20 The maturity of
some of the oil and gas fields in Oman has also undoubtably contributed
to their early interest in solar technology for EOR, but this trend may
spread to the rest of the region over the coming decade, as other heavy
oil wells begin to enter maturity.
Table 4.2 uses data compiled from the 2019 IRENA GCC report and
more recent data from various government sources to paint a picture of
credible deployment plans in 2020–2021. 21 The term credible is used
here to refer to future power projects that are in the final planning stages,
either the tendering process or currently under construction.
99
Table 4.1 Renewable energy deployment for power generation in GCC states
by end of 2019, in MW of installed capacity
Solar
photovoltaic
(PV)
Concentrated
solar power
(CSP)
Wind
Biomass and
waste
Total
renewable
energy (RE)
Bahrain
6
0
1
0
7
Kuwait
43
50
12
0
105
Oman
8
0
0
0
8
Qatar
5
0
0
38
43
Saudi Arabia
344
50
3
0
397
UAE
1783
100
1
1
1885
exception, where most of the renewable energy capacity has been developed as part of a waste to energy plant at the Domestic Solid Waste
Management Centre (DSWMC).
Going forward, it appears that states in the region will double down
on this technology preference, with solar PV still representing more
than three-quarters of short-term planned capacity additions. Countries
with strong wind resources, however, notably Saudi Arabia and Oman,
are also planning their first large-scale onshore wind deployments for
2020. Oman’s plans over the next two years are noteworthy, standing
out from other states in the region with a strong focus on solar thermal
technology. The latter represents more than 50% of planned capacity additions, though not technically in the power sector. As discussed in the
previous section, Oman’s deployment of solar thermal for enhanced oil
recovery (EOR) is a continuation of a trend that was set in motion as
early as 2010, and was made more likely following investments made by
the state in its technology partner, Glasspoint, in 2014. 20 The maturity of
some of the oil and gas fields in Oman has also undoubtably contributed
to their early interest in solar technology for EOR, but this trend may
spread to the rest of the region over the coming decade, as other heavy
oil wells begin to enter maturity.
Table 4.2 uses data compiled from the 2019 IRENA GCC report and
more recent data from various government sources to paint a picture of
credible deployment plans in 2020–2021. 21 The term credible is used
here to refer to future power projects that are in the final planning stages,
either the tendering process or currently under construction.