Green development in Arab nations ‘due to sunshine and strong winds’
A NUMBER of GCC and Arab countries are at the forefront of renewable energy development, because of the region’s naturally occurring abundant sunshine and strong winds, the chairman of one of the country’s leading think tanks revealed at a top energy forum yesterday.
Bahrain Centre for Strategic Studies and Energy (Derasat) chairman Dr Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa opened the 5th Annual Derasat Forum and 2nd MENA International Association for Energy Economies (IAEE) Symposium, highlighting that the region receives as much as a quarter of the rays essential for generating solar energy.
“The region also recognises the socioeconomic benefits of renewable energy development, perceived as an opportunity for industrial diversification, new value chain activities and technology transfer,” Dr Al Khalifa noted, in his opening remarks of the two-day event at The Art Hotel and Resort in Amwaj Islands.
“The ambitious targets set by the countries in this region are supposed to translate into a combined 80 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030.”
He went on to emphasise Bahrain’s achievements as part of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, which was launched in 2017.
He highlighted Bahrain’s target of sourcing five per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2025, increasing to 10pc by 2035.
He noted that 78pc of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been integrated in the government’s action plan from 2019 to 2022.
He also recognised the need for closer regional co-operation to achieve a stronger environmental record, while also capitalising on economic opportunities and technological advancements.
