World Future Energy Summit: Green Hydrogen To Transform MENA Into Electrolyser Installer

Denisa Fainis strongly feels  MENA would see it account for 20% of global green hydrogen production

According to the report, the optimistic forecast came from the Secretary General of the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), Denisa Fainis, as she presented the association’s Solar Outlook Report 2023 to attendees at the Solar & Clean Energy Forum, one of six specialised vertical events in the Summit’s overall programme.

Fainis said that if MENA realised its production potential, which would see it account for 20% of global green hydrogen production, it would also become a main supply chain hub given its geographic positioning between Asia and Europe.

The MESIA Outlook Report, on the other hand, tells solar PV developers and business owners to try to make competitive tariffs and cut down on cooling use by making buildings more energy efficient and using building management systems.

"Even though the Middle East has summer all year long, cooling is one of its biggest energy users and CO2 emitters, and demand for this is expected to triple by 2050," said Fainis.

The report, which is the 10th from the Association, is released every year at the World Future Energy Summit. It says that while infrastructure and testing in hot weather still make it hard for electric vehicles to catch on in the Middle East, there are signs that the sector could give Saudi Arabia a big economic boost.

MESIA highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambitious EV manufacturing plans, saying its estimated capacity of 350,000 vehicles will "ignite the creation of an industry with the goal of creating jobs and diversifying the economy,"  she said.

The report also addresses asset management via drone surveying, robot cleaning, O&M digitalization, country-specific highlights, and experts’ opinions on the opportunities and challenges within the individual nations.

It also takes a quick look at the countries that don't have enough electricity and points out the trouble spots that could be good for businesses that are willing to take risks.

"We are at the start of a new growth phase for solar energy," said Fainia. He added that this new phase is free from the doubts that have been cast on solar over the past ten years.

"Also important is the fact that solar energy is cost and electricity price competitive with other energy products and solutions, which has been the underlying factor for its resilience and unabated growth despite sustained low oil and gas prices and recent volatile energy market conditions," said MESIA Secretary General.

"Solar energy has always been unique amongst other technologies, being able to be scaled to fit any need, from residential applications to utilities-at-scale developments."

According to the report, Fania says MENA’s solar installation and implementation experience has led to a fresh drive for greater energy yields and high operational efficiencies through technological advancement.

RX Middle East, which organises the World Future Energy Summit, says the MESIA report is a positive forecast of the MENA region’s rich solar potential.

"The region is readying for an influx of both private and public investment in its solar infrastructure as the medium plays an increasing role in MENA’s energy mix,"  commented Leen Alsebai, Head of the World Future Energy Summit and General Manager of RX Middle East.

"The Solar & Clean Energy Forum is a weathervane to where the industry is heading, and it’s pointing to a very bright future indeed,"  Leen added.

The World Future Energy Summit is hosted by Masdar and is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global platform for accelerating the world’s sustainable development. The event is also being held in collaboration with ENOWA for the first time, according to the report.

By Sumita Pawar