Innovative clean energy technologies open a window for aligning low-carbon energy transition with economic revitalization. Another major change came from falling prices in renewable technology and changing price structures in some Middle Eastern countries. Saudi Arabia is also working to tap into its wind power potential.

The region’s population growth and economic development have led to an increase in overall energy needs. Several changes were key to building a good foundation for renewables in the Middle East and North Africa. However, in recent years, this has changed, and parts of the region now appear on track to significantly increase their use of solar and wind power. However, the impacts on the renewable energy industry could be very large, as the regions most affected by the Covid‑19 crisis could see a sharp reduction in construction. There is also a strong case for wind power in some other corners of the region, such as Morocco.There are some climatic problems though. “There's not one answer to that. Technological developments made renewable energy more practical and affordable. The report inspired by the Desertec vision aims at providing clean energy from MENA's desert regions to the entire MENA region as well as exporting electricity to Europe. Some Middle Eastern countries already use hydroelectric power, though the effects of climate change and competition for water resources are limiting factors. The share of renewable forms of energy increased threefold in the decade from 2002. And although they have generally been on the up since mid-2017, they still remain well below the level needed for most oil-producing governments in the region to balance their budgets. While parts of the region have long had personal solar panels, companies and experts in the renewable energy sector often expressed frustration in trying to attract investment or in developing pilot projects for larger-scale production. In some countries, remaining subsidies for oil and gas-based fuels make it difficult for renewables to compete on price. But it is a clear sign of a growing trend to develop renewable energy schemes in the world’s oil-producing heartland, the Middle East. But it is not just energy ministries that have been converted to the cause. High-profile projects such as Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City and Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Solar Park highlight the country’s role in renewable energy innovation, while pragmatic, smaller-scale programs aim to expand the renewable footprint in the UAE.

Recognizing the growing benefits brought by clean energy, two dozen United States (U.S.) governors emphasized boosting the local economy through clean energy deployment in their 2012 state-of-the-state addresses (National Governors Association, 2014). In terms of the overall energy needs of the UAE, the electricity provided by the solar park is essentially negligible. On wind, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iran, Israel and Kuwait have been leaders, though to varying degrees.

Investment in renewable energy is picking up across the Middle East. Given the increasing pressure to meet the energy demand of a growing population and economy in the region, these studies have spurred great optimism that east Africa countries could potentially leapfrog the current energy-environment crisis by effectively utilizing renewable energy sources and technologies. Vision 2030 includes a renewable energy component, and plans for Neom are based on renewable energy. The future is gas and renewables,” he said.Much of the Middle East is well placed to exploit the potential of solar energy in particular, given the clear blue skies and hot sun which dominate for much of the year. Table 1 shows estimates of the potential

Battery technology is getting better, but still isn’t quite good enough to remove the need for conventional power sources to keep the lights and air conditioning units on at night.Such problems will not be enough to derail the growing momentum in the industry through, as there are some important motivating factors which are pushing governments to exploit their renewable resources.Perhaps the most significant is cost. The region’s wealthier countries have the resources required to address these challenges.

Now that renewables are more cost-competitive and are proving their value, the renewable sector in the Middle East and North Africa is likely to expand quickly.Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point-of-view The Saudi government is expected to “In the oil producing heart of the Middle East we’re seeing investments in renewables at costs that are really game-changing,” says Adnan Amin, director general of the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).With all this activity, the region is following a growing global trend. Significant capital investments are required to scale up renewable energy sources. In my view those fossil fuel-producing states that have the money, they could take the lead. A major challenge to solar power is the need to store energy when sunlight is unavailable; technological solutions are improving, but further work is needed. More immediately, the Sakaka solar power plant project is moving forward and is seen as an important step in making solar power cost competitive. They have the financial resources and they have the sense of urgency, because at some time fossil fuel resources will be exhausted and they have to change their economic value-chain.”Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.I write about business and politics in the Middle East and beyond United Arab Emirates, on 17 January 2018 (Photo: Dominic Dudley). The UAE has led the GCC countries with its focus on and investments in renewable energy — it currently produces more solar power than any other GCC country and has ambitious targets for increasing the renewable portion of its energy mix.