Clean energy offers massive potential for GCC to maintain global energy leadership and reap substantial fossil fuel savings: report

• Renewable energy (RE) plans for region’s electricity sectors could result in overall savings of USD 55 to 87 billion 

• Fossil fuel savings in power and water sectors could peak at around 400 million barrels of oil equivalent by 2030 

• Savings for Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest consumer of fossil fuels for power production, at 170 million barrels of oil and gas resources by 2030 

• Carbon emissions could also be reduced by one gigaton by 2030 

• 8 per cent cut in the region’s per capita carbon footprint forecasted if RE plans implemented 

• Estimated 5.7 million employed directly or indirectly in the global renewable energy industry in 2012 could triple by 2030 

Shifting to clean and renewable energy presents a very strong potential for oil-producing GCC countries to maintain global leadership in the energy sector despite the current market slowdown, while reaping massive savings of up to USD 87 billion as well as potentially reducing up to one gigaton of carbon emissions, according a new report. ‘Clean Energy in the GCC’ highlights the array of benefits for the GCC economy and the global environment if the region would focus and take advantage of the growth potential in clean and renewable energy.

The report was released recently by Orient Planet Research, an Orient Planet Group venture.

Scaling up renewable energy in the GCC countries would reap multiple benefits across the region, the report noted, adding what Gulf countries would stand to gain in terms of job creation, fossil fuel savings, and reduction in carbon emission, among others.

Achieving the RE plans for the region’s electricity sectors, for instance, could result in an overall savings of USD 55 to 87 billion, depending on oil and gas prices. Carbon emissions could also be reduced by one gigaton (Gt) by 2030, leading to an 8 per cent cut in the region’s per capita carbon footprint.

 The figures were based on the findings of the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which added that as more renewable power plants are brought online every year, fossil fuel savings in the power and water sectors could peak at around 400 million barrels of oil equivalent by 2030.

In the case of Saudi Arabia, the region’s largest consumer of fossil fuels for power production, the Kingdom would save around 170 million barrels of oil and gas resources by 2030, or 44 per cent of the GCC-wide savings. The IRENA analysis indicates that the fulfillment of renewable energy targets can cut power sector fossil fuel consumption in Saudi Arabia by 25 per cent by 2030.

Other recent findings contained in the report include:

• Saudi Arabia says solar contributing 76 per cent of its sustainable energy plans by 2040, with wind at 17 per cent
• Water use could be cut by 16 per cent in the power sector in the region
• In the UAE, fuel consumption in water and power industries could be cut 50 per cent if targets are met
• Fuel use would drop 23 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 21 per cent in Kuwait

Nidal Abou Zaki, Managing Director, Orient Planet Group, said: “Rapid industrialization, population growth, and an increased rate of water desalination are all contributing to burgeoning energy demand. Right now, more fossil fuels are being used to meet the rising energy requirement but there is now a growing need to transform towards a more sustainable future. The prospects are bright for GCC countries in this regard especially because the region has a strong potential to be a net exporter of electricity generated from solar power in the future. This is only one aspect which GCC governments can capitalize on moving forward.”

The development of fossil fuel reserves and their exportation has led to wide economic growth, bringing prosperity and development to the region. The GCC economies’ position in global energy markets over the past 40 years has been shaped by their role as oil and gas producers. Rapid socio-economic growth over the past decade is positioning them as one of the world’s highest growth markets.

“However, now is the time to study and explore sustainable alternative. Pursuing renewable resources in the Gulf is highly practical as it is as richly endowed with renewable resources as it is with hydrocarbons.  The region, as the report notes, boasts of abundant year-round sunshine, the space to develop large solar power plants, significant wind and geothermal resources, and biomass derived from urban waste. There is no better time to pursue clean energy than now when the industry is experiencing significant growth worldwide,” Abou Zaki added.

In terms of job creation, meanwhile, the report highlights that the estimated 5.7 million employed directly or indirectly in the global renewable energy industry in 2012 could triple by 2030, with the solar segment expecting to account for 85 per cent, followed by waste-to-energy at 14 per cent.

The report also cited that renewable energy will help GCC countries produce 116,000 jobs annually.

Such considerable job opportunities are crucial as global economies continue to struggle with economic boom-bust cycles. Unemployment and its associated social and economic impacts remain a key concern and an instrumental driver of public policy.  Moreover, RE power generation is becoming more cost effective. Improving technology and growing competition have seen RE costs drop dramatically. In addition, solar power generation fits very well with demand patterns in a geography such as the GCC, where air conditioning dominates the electricity demand curve.

Overall, the report states that RE offers the region an important opportunity to be at the forefront of optimizing clean energy to efficiently and effectively meet increasing power demand in a sustainable manner.