Mohammed Al Kour Sheds Light On The Region's Solar Belt

“The Middle East is located within what is known as the solar belt, an area that receives a disproportionate amount of sunlight due to its position near to Earth's equator. And we can enhance the solar energy production significantly. If you believe the numbers, for instance, you'll get over 1800 kWh/kWp annually, which is excellent when compared to European or Western countries. And then, in terms of solar power's future in this region, we've lucked out by spending so much time in Dubai, home to a number of international corporations with expertise in the field. And starting with UAE's solar projects, which have been started almost nine years ago, they have started with Mohammed Bis Rashid Solar Park, which has been reached to over 2.8GW, combining solar photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), over five phases as well as AlDhafra and Sweihan solar PV projects, which are 3.2GWp. Moreover, the Tariff rates are so low compared with other regions, low labour costs, competitive project financing prices, well-experienced vendors who can design, procure, and implement the project. Besides, the comprehensive costs of building a solar PV power plant are coming down with the time. Due to all the above-mentioned strong factors, Middle East is one of the best destinations for solar investors. Let’s not forget that the first CSP plant in the world was built in 1912 by Frank Shuman, operating steam engine in Maadi, Egypt,” stated Mohammed AlKour, Sr. Solar PV Engineer & Team Leader, Haji Commercial Company LLC

“The capital cost of an investment in solar PV project can be covered over the course of four to five years, they will drastically help reduce business overheads as they have a lifespan of 25–30 years. Given the significant advantages, many solar energy projects have been green-lighted in the region,” said AlKour.

Technology Is The Real Driving Force

Solar energy is collected through three main technologies: photovoltaics (PV), which converts light into electricity directly, concentrated solar power (CSP), which uses thermal energy from the sun to drive utility-scale electric turbines, and solar heating and cooling (SHC) systems, which collect thermal energy to provide hot water and air heating or conditioning.

“PV stands for "photovoltaic”, it is a Greek word. The word itself implies the working methodology; the word “photo” comes from the photons that generates voltage “voltaic” by touching the PV cells. PV cells can convert the photo energy into electricity. PV cells are made of Semiconductor, when the photon of the sunlight touches the solar PV cell, it activates the electrons within the semiconductor causing the material to conduct power. This power is then converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) by inverter” explained AlKour.

“While concentrated solar power (CSP) systems use mirrors to focus a large area of sunlight onto a much smaller area where it contains a fluid, where it is used to transfer the heat from solar collectors to the power cycles to drives a steam turbine connected to an electrical power generator. 

“When it comes to solar power plants, the Middle East prefers solar PV power plants over CSP because CSP is only used on a utility-scale. In contrast, solar photovoltaics can be utilised practically anywhere and requires less CAPEX and OPEX” he said.

Shedding more light on the subject, Mohammed said, “The Middle East has become a focal point for investors and the realisation of visionary financiers' plans due to the region's strategic location and the approach or assistance offered by the region's governments. And that's great news for governments keen on adopting solar power; they're increasing their share of renewable energy to 50 percent. Because of the Middle East's strategic location, we can mostly rely on solar power and not on wind or other renewable sources relatively. Solar energy, whether PV or CSP, will soon become the primary source of power for the vast majority of people.”

The government’s Support Can Act As A Catalyst For This Sector

It's important to show individuals the government's plan to encourage solar adoption by individual households before they can convince them to switch to solar power by showcasing how it can help turn a profit for both individuals and businesses through net metering feature. 

“Therefore, I believe that the government should adopt policies like net metering and allow consumers to sell back to the government all the excess energy they generate.”

Further, AlKour said that through education and public awareness campaigns, solar power will gain popularity leading to the growth and development of the industry in the region.

He also added, “As I faced a disappointed period seeking for the first opportunity to join the solar world in Dubai, I wish the organizations focus on hiring graduates as an internee to give the chance, they may be going to be better than those who are experienced, as we all know that the character matters the most and the experience can be gained sooner or later”

Top Solar Power Plants in the Middle East

  - 100MW - CSP - Masder - UAE 

- 1.2 GW - PV - Noor Sweihan - UAE 

- 2 GW - PV - AlDhafra - UAE 

- 13 MW - PV - 1st Phase MBR Solar Park - UAE 

- 200 MW - PV - 2nd Phase MBR Solar Park - UAE 

- 800 MW - PV - 3rd Phase MBR Solar Park - UAE 

- 950 MW - PV + CSP - 4th Phase MBR Solar Park - UAE 

- 900 MW - PV + CSP - 5th Phase MBR Solar Park - UAE 

- 300MW - PV - Sakaka - KSA 

- 2GW - PV - Western Saudi - KSA 

- 800MW - PV – Al Kharsaah - Qatar 

- 1 GW - PV - Karapinar - Turkey 

- 105 MW - PV - Ma'an - Jordan 

Explaining further on such mega projects, Al Kour said “If you look back in time, you'll see that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are the two countries that have put the most emphasis on solar power. Also, for the past two years, there has been a proliferation of utilities skills-related projects in KSA. And there has been a great deal of funding, or during the for the utility-scale projects going for many courses, mega points.”

Energy Storage Devices’ Real Picture

One of the many drawbacks to renewable energy is the difficulty of putting that energy to use later. Energy storage is challenging in general, but especially so for wind and hydropower; solar energy can be stored using batteries. When the well-designed size of the batteries is taken into account, it's clear that this is a massive system. There are a lot of different technologies packed into batteries, so it's important to select the right one and construct it in such a way that it can provide power for at least two days if cloudy weather strikes. As a result, the design and engineering must be spot-on

“Ideally, every project dependent relying on batteries should be sized for minimum two days autonomy. However, high-quality batteries are quite expensive and thus out of budget for many customers. One silver lining is that today technology is moving beyond the storage of solar power through hydrogen green cells. 

He added further, “They are now looking for a hybrid system that combines solar power with Diesel Generator. As a result, you can minimize or eliminate the use of batteries.”

Speaking more on the practical change as far as the solar industry is concerned for the region, Mohammed said, “When it comes to making changes because we must first make those adjustments within ourselves. We need to give ourselves the option of using renewable sources of energy or reducing our overall energy consumption. The shift has to come from within, first and foremost in terms of individual attitudes and beliefs; second, it will require action on the part of regional and national governments, which will need to promote a greener way of life and provide resources to businesses so they can implement green initiatives. Finally, we come to the topic of schooling and instruction. More people need to realise that this plan isn't just about us; it's about future generations as well. Of course, we also need to provide them with even cleaner air than they are already breathing. Therefore, it is everyone's duty to realise that we are in a climate emergency and that immediate action is required. Right now, I'm in the middle of reading NetZero City. This book, then, describes the plan and the precise transformation necessary within ten years to reach net-zero. It is an incredible book. As far as I can see, we are out of options and therefore require it.”

Mohammed hails from Jordan. He has been raised his whole life here in Dubai. This is where he completed his senior year of high school. After that, he relocated to Cyprus to finish his undergraduate studies in Energy Systems Engineering, specializing in Renewable Energy Resources from Girne American University . After realising the region's potential and untapped opportunities, he relocated back to Dubai. In the beginning, he had some difficulty here because the market was already quite saturated. Thankfully, he recovered and was able to take advantage of a subsequent opportunity. He is now a valued member of Haji Commercial Company LLC (HCC), where he is the senior solar PV engineer leading the design, execution, and O&M teams and he is perusing a master’s degree in Global Sustainability Engineering from Heriot-Watt University. HCC has done many projects in Dubai has ongoing projects working with high prestigious clients and governments