Creative Commons/Kevin Dooley
The authors of the MENA Renewables Status Report analyze renewable energy markets, industry, policy and investment trends, concluding that the region’s sustainable energy market has grown considerably in the last decade, due largely to its extensive renewable energy resources.
According to the report Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) has increased commitment to renewable energy, and of the 106 renewable projects planned for the territory, 41.5% are wind-based.
Beyond hydro, wind energy is the most common source of renewable electricity production in the region, especially in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.
At least eight MENA countries had wind power capacity, for a total of almost 1.1 GW, by the end of 2012. Egypt is the leader in the region with 550 MW of installed capacity, followed by Morocco with 291 MW and Tunisia with 154 MW.
Tunisia has experienced strong growth over the last f ive years, with wind power capacity increasing eightfold from 2008 to 2012. In contrast, Iran, an early leader in the region with 91 MW wind power capacit y in 2009, has seen flat growth in recent years.
The report also suggests that diversification efforts will increase in coming years, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Saudi Arabia, the prime net oil exporter of the area, is even turning to wind energy. This is largely prompted by its swift population growth which makes its dependence on oil and gas fired power stations for electricity increasingly untenable. By 2032, the country hopes to achieve 9 gigawatts of wind capacity.
Adnan Amin, Director General, IRENA, said in a statement: “From IRENA’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, we have been uniquely placed to witness renewable energy become a multi-billion dollar industry within the MENA region. Since 2008, modern renewable energy production has grown at a much faster rate than fossil fuels and, with 106 renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline, this trend is likely to continue. By implementing ambitious targets, and enabling strong regulatory and institutional frameworks, governments across the region are driving the growth of renewable energy, and showing growing recognition of its broad macro-economic benefits.”
Source – MENA Renewables Status Report
