SolarQuarter- Middle East Nov-Dec Issue 2022

NalinKumar Sharma

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The robotics adoption rate in India has grown significantly in the past 6 years, as over 60% of greenfield projects are currently designed to implement robotics.

The new H4 offers a faster ROI, with minimal infrastructure requirements and quick deployment Ecoppia's validation and testing process applies to the overall product, as well as to individual components such as batteries, wheels, firmware, and microfibers

horizontally, while the microfiber dusters clean vertically, in a spiral-like motion. The H4 provides an extended cleaning coverage area of up to 2KM as well as bidirectional cleaning, which allows the robot to clean from either side of the row, reducing the time wasted on going back and forth from the docking station The H4 solution joins Ecoppia’s suite of products together with the E4 and T4 that have already been deployed in more than 30 large scale project in around the globe.

The new H4 offers a faster ROI, with minimal infrastructure requirements and quick deployment It is designed to provide a holistic solution for even the most challenging solar sites while remaining completely safe for the panels and structure, alongside effective, swift, and smart cleaning

With nearly a decade of experience in cleaning billions of panels across the world, Ecoppia’s is the world’s leader in robotic cleaning solutions for large-scale utility solar PV Ecoppia offers a cloud-based platform and a suite of advanced, fully autonomous robots that cost-effectively maximize the performance of utility-scale sites worldwide. With a strong local presence in the Middle East for nearly a decade, and more than 3,700MW of installed projects globally, Ecoppia has been working with the largest IPPS such as TotalEnergies, Azure Power, Actis, Fortum and ReNew Power

Ecoppia recently launched the H4 for both fixed tilt and Single Axis tracker installations –an innovative waterless robotic cleaning solution, featuring a helix design that prevents heavy dust accumulation with the robot moving

Ecoppia provides its clients with a robust data hub, hosted on a cloud-based platform, to allow continuous monitoring and data collection The hub offers site managers full visibility of data that helps them properly evaluate the sites’ cleaning performance, cleaning availability rates and other cleaning related insights

Ecoppia's dashboards include data about cleaning times and coverages, weather conditions and other relevant performance insights as well as access to reports that are highlighting relevant takeaways. The ability to view such drilled-down detailed data, enables site owners to fully understand their site operation and maintenance on a daily, monthly, and annual basis

With safety & reliability at its core, Ecoppia is offering a 25-years partnership to IPPs, focusing on providing superb service While a robotic cleaning solution represents only 12% of the overall site Capex, the importance of choosing the right vendor is critical, as subperforming technology may eventually not be able to effectively and reliably clean for 25 years, or even create damage that can cause a significant loss of money The lifetime value of the robotic solution chosen should consider spare parts, labor, and other factors that are required for site maintenance while taking into consideration their high availability and performance, as well as minimal risks to the site itself

QKindly tell us about Ecoppia's robotic solutions, their key highlights, and how they help deliver peak panel performance.

QWhat are the advanced datadriven AI technologies incorporated in your solutions?

QHow does your technologydriven cleaning solution help in lowering LCOE?

President - Asia, Middle East & Pacific, Ecoppia

"Ecoppia offers a cloud-based platform and a suite of advanced, fully autonomous robots that cost-effectively maximize the performance of utility-scale sites worldwide."

"While a robotic cleaning solution represents only 1-2% of the overall site Capex, the importance of choosing the right vendor is critical, as sub-performing technology may eventually not be able to effectively and reliably clean for 25 years, or even create damage that can cause a significant loss of money."

The robotics adoption rate in India has grown significantly in the past 6 years, as over 60% of greenfield projects are currently designed to implement robotics We see a similar growth trend in brownfield sites with 40% of all brownfield projects expected to install robotic solutions in the next 5 years For projects that are 50MW and larger, currently Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka are the top states in India to adopt robotics

As projects are built in remote areas, the challenge of how to keep modules free of dust and soiling is already at the forefront – manual labor is simply no longer a sustainable or feasible solution, and so autonomous cleaning is the natural solution for IPPs.

Ecoppia's experience reveals a production increase of 3%-6% on average versus manual cleaning, and up to 32% increase post dust storms events, while the water saving is by itself a critical factor both on the economic side and the sustainability front

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Ecoppia has a 3,000m validation center, dedicated to extensive testing Our validation and testing process applies to the overall product, as well as to individual components such as batteries, wheels, firmware, and microfibers We test each component individually but also can test multiple conditions at once, and we do not just rely on our research facility – we also run rigorous testing with external laboratories and extensively testing on sites

Every aspect of the robotic performance is analyzed - from the impact on modules, coating, and structure, to connections between neighboring structures, among other things Ecoppia's product design life is over 25 years, as the post-sale support includes a comprehensive annual maintenance contract combined with both scheduled and predictive maintenance

With more than 30 large-scale projects deployed globally, Ecoppia is planning on continuing its expansion to new regions, focusing on providing a perfect fit to the local markets’ needs With continuous product enhancements, as well as collaboration with the leading market players, Ecoppia will continue to focus its efforts on optimizing its offering to IPPS by providing a tailor-made solution per site – and even per row in the site For example, In one of SECI sites developed by Azure Power in India, Ecoppia installed the combination of its full product portfolio of the E4, T4 and H4, to cater to the site needs and increase the cost efficiency to

the maximum

QHow has robotic cleaning technology evolved in India? How do you see this technology evolving in the coming years?

What kind of reliability and warranty can we expect from your products? How about the after-sales support you offer?

What is your plan for the next couple of years?

"The lifetime value of the robotic solution chosen should consider spare parts, labor, and other factors that are required for site maintenance while taking into consideration their high availability and performance, as well as minimal risks to the site itself."

BUSINESS BUSINESS INSIGHTS INSIGHTS

The Middle East Can Develop As The Global Centre For Green Hydrogen

The global energy shift involves storing, transporting, and delivering energy globally as well as producing sustainable energy locally The Middle East is well-positioned to dominate the global green hydrogen industry thanks to its wealth of renewable energy sources, convenient location, and significant ongoing expenditures in logistical infrastructure It not only has the potential to produce green hydrogen at scale but also to export it all over the world to meet the rising demand

Many Middle Eastern countries are aiming to become major producers of green hydrogen, with the potential to displace fossil fuels as a primary source of energy for transportation, power, and heating which together account for roughly three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions

Although there are still many obstacles to overcome before green hydrogen can reach its full potential, the area is well-positioned to play a big role. According to research, the cost of producing solar, wind, and green hydrogen in the Gulf is around one-third of the world average, and Gulf solar panels generate twice as much electricity as those in Germany

With a 1.2 GW power generation capacity, Noor Abu Dhabi is one of the largest single-site solar power plants in the world, and this year will see the start of operations at the 2 GW Al Dhafra solar power plant in the emirate When its financing was approved in December 2020, Dhafra established a solar pricing record low of AED0.0497/kWh or $0.01353/kWh. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai has a 1.8 GW capacity now and will eventually have a 5 GW capacity A portion of this capacity will be used by Gulf governments to produce green hydrogen

Saudi Arabia is constructing a $5 billion green hydrogen project in NEOM that will use renewable energy to produce 650 tonnes of carbon-free hydrogen per day The plant will begin production in 2026 Saudi may be able to generate the least expensive green hydrogen, there are several other challengers nearby in the context of other Middle Eastern nations with comparable advantages and an equally strong political will to fully utilize their newest source of competitive advantage

The UAE and Saudi Arabia were quick to recognize the opportunity and devised bold plans The UAE hopes to capture 25% of the global hydrogen market, while Saudi Arabia hopes to become the world's largest supplier. Oman and Egypt are two other countries in the region making significant strides As of now, more than 45 green hydrogen projects in the Middle East and Africa are in the works More than 40 investments totaling more than $20 billion have been announced for the period up to 2030, in addition to numerous smaller projects

For many years, the Middle East's expansion as a regional economic superpower has been fueled by the massive oil and gas reserves that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE own There is no question that immediate action on hydrogen is required, even though the region's transition away from fossil fuels is one of the largest challenges it faces to sustain this position Many of the countries in the region are now positioned as trailblazers in the switch to more sustainable types of energy thanks to a long history of oil and gas exploration, production, and investment in technological skills

According to a recent publication from PWC, the creation of green hydrogen necessitates a streamlined supply of affordable, sustainable energy all year long The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations experience some of the greatest levels of sun exposure worldwide. According to our calculations of global supply and demand, exporting nations may be able to take advantage of a market worth $300 billion annually by 2050 for almost 200 million tonnes of green hydrogen Additionally, the green hydrogen export market has the potential to generate up to 400,000 operations and maintenance employees, of which 100,000 will be located in electrolysis facilities and 300,000 in renewable energy production

As per the report, around $2 1 trillion in expenditures will be needed to meet the demand for green hydrogen exports in 2050 Of this sum, $1 trillion must be spent on the construction of specialized renewable energy capacity, $900 billion on the establishment of facilities for exporting hydrogen, and $200 billion on the advancement of water electrolysis infrastructure

Producers can choose from several conveyance options, including compressed or liquefied hydrogen, ammonia-based hydrogen, and organic carrier molecules. The least expensive method of transporting hydrogen is through pipes for lengths under 1,800 KMs Ammonia ships are the most affordable option for longer routes

The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) President of Bahrain discussed the project with a high-level delegation from Al Judy Company, led by Chairman Ibrahim Ali The 4 MW project will be built in its first phase on land with a total area of 20,000 square meters and an estimated cost of $150 million

Oman aims to increase green hydrogen production from 32,500 to 3 75 million tonnes per year by 2040 and from 3 5 million to 8 5 million tonnes per year by 2050 The country estimates that it will need a cumulative investment of $140 billion over this period to reach its production target by 2050 Hydrogen Oman Company (Hydrom) has issued requests for qualifications (RFQ) to more than 40 companies that have expressed an interest in the recently announced blocks for green hydrogen projects in the Sultanate Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) started offering blocks for green hydrogen projects in November 2022, via Hydrom The first round opened on November 6th with two blocks on offer in Duqm to develop green hydrogen projects. ACME Group announced the signing of a land agreement to set up one of the world’s largest green ammonia projects at the Special Economic Zone at the Port of Duqm in Oman The agreement was signed with The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, a Government authority of Oman.

ReNew Power signed the Framework Agreement with the Government of Egypt to set up a Green Hydrogen plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone with an investment of $8 billion and a targeted annual production of 220,000 tons of green hydrogen The Framework Agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2022

ENGIE and Masdar have signed a strategic alliance agreement to explore the co-development of a UAE-based green hydrogen hub The two companies are looking to develop projects with a capacity of at least 2 GW by 2030, with a total investment in the region of $5 billion

A Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) and a Renewables Data Collection Agreement were signed between British Petroleum (BP) and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Oman to support the possible development of multiple GWs of top-tier renewable energy and green hydrogen in Oman by 2030. Under the deal, bp will gather and analyze solar and wind data from an area of land that is 8,000 km2 in size The assessment will then assist the Omani government in permitting the future construction of renewable energy hubs in this region at acceptable sites to take advantage of these resources

While not all GCC nations have the same level of interest in hydrogen, they all do While Oman is developing new institutions and implementing numerous projects, Saudi Arabia is starting large-scale initiatives without any kind of institutional framework The UAE has made a policy announcement and realized its first projects successfully Qatar is still concentrating on exporting its LNG and blue hydrogen Bahrain and Kuwait continue to be conservative and only make investments after conducting feasibility studies The Gulf states are uncertain about the hydrogen color spectrum: Oman is concentrating on the green; Qatar is sticking with blue, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia are planning to strike a compromise between the two

It is hardly intrinsic that the GCC governments have such a keen interest in hydrogen In its place, it pursues the hope of assuring prosperity and foreign demand. Despite a global energy shift, hydrogen offers the Gulf states the chance to essentially maintain their current economic and political power structures Green hydrogen is a supplement to current (fossil) energy exports and a long-term risk hedge

Eng.FarahQaqish

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The appetite for medium to large-scale electricity consumers is enhanced towards adopting solar PV systems to cover as much as they can of their annual consumptions

Regarding our export business, the first half of 2022 exceeded our expectations very favorably

As for Jordan, we are still optimistic that the market will continue to add more megawatts to the grid

Since the establishment of the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Dept back in 2012, we were the first to adopt the latest technologies Partnering with the strongest and most credible solar PV components was the best strategy that goes in line with our Group’s strategy for promoting high-end products Nowadays, we offer the latest technologies that come from the giant players in the solar markets such as Canadian Solar and SMA We are witnessing the development of bi-facial modules from many manufacturers as well as having Ntype silicon commercially feasible

transforming into smart grids will be costly Therefore; energy storage will allow the regular grids to increase the total RE ratio in the energy mix

As for Jordan, we are still optimistic that the market will continue to add more megawatts to the grid We will support our branches in the region The Saudi market is expected to be booming in 2023 We will study all opportunities to expand our reach wherever possible

The year 2022 was overall very good We witnessed a development in the Jordanian market although the electric utilities already banned mega-scale projects since 2019 The appetite for medium to large-scale electricity consumers is enhanced towards adopting solar PV systems to cover as much as they can of their annual consumptions Regarding our export business, the first half of 2022 exceeded our expectations very favorably New markets in the region demanded large quantities of solar PV components and we managed to cover some major needs.

Despite the fact that European countries are increasing their renewable energy shares because of the global energy crisis, the Middle East still has a large room for improvement The major player in the near future will be large-scale solar PV power plants with tracking solutions However; I believe the storage potential will increase either for medium size and large-scale projects. Most Middle Eastern countries don’t have smart grids. This will restrict renewable energy penetration. Also,

Globally, the Solar business will increase dramatically Not only China is transforming into renewable resources heavily, but also the European Union, the USA and the Middle East, and North Africa are adding Giga-Watts of new capacities

Director of Export and Deputy GM – RE&EE Dept. – IZZAT MARJI GROUP

"Partnering with the strongest and most credible solar PV components was the best strategy that goes in line with our Group’s strategy for promoting high-end products."

QHow has the year 2022 been for your esteemed company? Any key developments?

QWhat technology shifts are we witnessing in the Middle East region currently?

QWhat is your growth plan for 2023?

QHow do you see the solar sector shaping up in the region in 2023?

QHow is Izzat Marji Group keeping up with the latest technologies in solar space?

"We are witnessing the development of bi-facial modules from many manufacturers as well as having N-type silicon commercially feasible."

Reflective Material is Born for Bifacial Solar Gains SUNPLUS

Bifacial solar panel rear side power generation efficiency challenges

The ground reflectance of most of the project sites is low

The rear side power generation cannot be satisfied

There is no mature solution for increasing rear side power generation in the industry

SUNPLUS - USER

VALUE (PV PLANT)

Increase power generation of power plant Improve the PR of the power plant Full utilization of the power plant, resulting in lower LCOE 4 Easy installation and experience required Long service life, at low OPEX

SUNPLUS ENGINEERING CASE

Reflective material is Born for Bifacial solar gains

SUNPLUS

High diffuse reflectance ≥ 83%, gain up to 9 11%

Flexible material, easy to install

Anti-fouling and self-cleaning, easy maintenance

Anti-UV and anti-weathering, leading to long service life Heat and Cold resistant

Environmentally friendly

Through the continuous efforts of the HALEAD team, The latest generation of products has a diffuse reflectance of up to 85% & More longer service life.

The world's first photovoltaic power generation project

Using a ground-based flexible reflective material reinforced backplane power generation solution

From September 2021 till date now, the O&M is low and power generation gain effect is high

The Fourth Generation Revolution

A new breakthrough of power generation efficiency after the three proven technology trends (Poly to Monosilicon, P-Type to NType/TOPCon, and Monofacial to Bifacial)

Enrich Bifacial market

Increasing the competitiveness of Bifacial solar panels, accelerate the market penetration of Bifacial solar panels

Incorporates New Technology

It can be seamlessly coupled with gain enhancement technologies such as tracking and robotic cleaning systems adding greater value

Distributed Rooftop photovoltaic power project in China

The roof area is about 7,200 square meters, and the overall paving scheme is adopted After grid connection, it was confirmed that the gain is around 9% 11% higher after using SUNPLUS material against no material

Congratulations

to

GRAND MASTERS OF THE YEAR

all

the

Best Construction Team of the Year-Developer

Best Engineering Team of the Year- Developer CleanMax Solar MENA FZCO

Best Engineering Team of the Year- Distributor

Best Design Team of the Year-Distributor JUBAILI BROS SAL

Best Engineering Team of the Year- EPC

Best Design Team of the YearEPC EMPEREAL RUBY SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS INSTALLATION L L C

Best Engineering Team of the Year- Consulting

Best Marketing Team of the Year- Consulting Sun Capture

Best O&M Team of the Year Ecoppia

Best Design Team of the YearRobotic Cleaning Solutions Sunpure Technology CO Ltd

Best Research & Development Team of the Year ACWA Power (NOMAC)

Best Research & Development Team of the Year- Robotic Cleaning Solutions

SOLBOTIX

Best Business Development Team of the Year-PV Modules

LONGi Best Business Development Team of the Year- Developer

AMEA Power Best Sales Team of the YearDistributor POWERnSUN

MARKET STATISTICS

The Covid-19 epidemic caused a year of lockdown and unpredictability, so 2022 pushed the envelope to resume the deployment of renewable energy projects Although the market anticipates a recovery by 2022, the year saw swings in solar pricing, material costs, and supply chain difficulties By 2025, it is anticipated that the installed solar capacity would have increased by over 1,000 GW globally Additionally, over the next five years, projects fusing solar and storage will increase by 30% on average.

Few contracts for oil- or gas-fueled power stations were issued in the MENA region in the first half of 2022, according to the Middle East, Energy Transition reports However, almost two billion dollar’s worth of renewable energy projects were awarded in the area during the same period. As a result, it is anticipated that renewable energy will advance exponentially, and in the ensuing years, more solar projects will be completed The pace of storage projects is also increasing Additionally, there are more and more green hydrogen projects being developed, and pilot projects have already begun Additionally, plans are being made to participate in the following stage of the energy revolution

MIDDLE-EAST INSTALLED SOLAR PV CAPACITY (CUMULATIVE)

SOURCE: IRENA

The region-installed solar PV capacities touching the 10 GW market by the end of 2022, as the investment in the sector is increasing compared to other power mixes. Middle East region is the hottest place both in terms of climate as well as for investment in Solar PV projects Among them, UAE & Saudi Arab showing tremendous growth in the year 2022 The UAE boosted its production of renewable energy by over 18 times between 2015 and 2021, going from 136 MW to above 2 5 GW It is also considering some of the largest renewable energy projects in the world, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which could be the biggest solar power plant ever built and have a 5 GW capacity.

The overall installed solar power capacity in the Middle East is rising as measures to carry out environmental goals nearby Nearly 40 GW of additional solar capacity is anticipated by 2025 On the other hand, solar-plus-storage projects will be approximately manifold The development of technology is one of several elements that will determine how solar energy is used in the future The solar industry is likely to undergo a revolution thanks to TOPCon technology as cell efficiency rise during the coming year.

Global shipments of LONGi Hi-MO 5 modules now exceed 50GW

LONGi has announced that, as of mid-December, global shipments of its Hi-MO 5 module have exceeded 50GW, with cumulative shipments now approaching 100 million panels.

The Hi-MO 5, based on 182mm cells, was officially released in June 2020 and is adaptable to an extensive range of application scenarios, being easy to handle, transfer, store and install, with a very low breakage rate

Based on gallium-doped, half-cell crackles smart soldering technology, Hi-MO 5 modules have received wide industry recognition, including awards from Intersolar and TÜV Rheinland for Energy Yield Simulation at its ‘All Quality Matters’ congress, while end-user consumers have endorsed the product for exceeding expectations in terms of power generation performance

According to industry sources, the market share for 182 modules has seen a rapid increase during 2022, moving from 27% in 2021 to a current high of 70%

Moving forward, LONGi will add more products to its Hi-MO range and will continue to deliver green energy on a global scale as part of the transformation and upgrading of energy structures

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full-scenario energy transformation

Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero-carbon development. www longi com/en

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The Hi-MO 5, based on 182mm cells, was officially released in June 2020 and is adaptable to an extensive range of application scenarios, being easy to handle, transfer, store and install, with a very low breakage rate."

PROJECT FEATURE

LONGi delivered 406MW of its solar panels Hi-MO 5 for the Red Sea project in Saudi Arabia

On 24 November 2022, LONGi Solar Technology Co , Ltd (LONGi) announced the delivery completion of 406MW of its bifacial PV panels Hi-MO 5, for the Solar plant developed by PowerChina SEPCO III for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Solar PV Project

LONGi hosted today a ceremony to celebrate the successful delivery where LONGi confirmed that the production process is aligned with the delivery dates and all upcoming shipments will be on time accordingly, which ensures the commissioning of the Red Sea project

About the ceremony

Upon invitation, Senior leaders of PowerChina SEPCO III from Riyadh attended the ceremony, alongside local partners who played an essential role in seeing the project

Dennis She, Senior Vice President of LONGi Group attended this ceremony and made the opening speech today, he expressed appreciation for all partners concerned in the project. “Based on the respective market competitiveness and technological resource advantages in the photovoltaic field, we are all pride of being the most key participants of the 406MW Solar Project, which is a key point for further cooperation and also an important breakthrough to achieve Kingdom 2030 vision, to contribute to the overall energy mix up to 50% By 2030 LONGi will spare no effort to contribute to the region’s energy transformation ” Mr She said at the ceremony

About the Red Sea Solar PV project

The Red Sea Project is the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project currently in development in Saudi Arabia that is managed by The Red Sea Development Company (TDC) and forms part of the Saudi Vision 2030 program Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced the project in July 2017, focusing on luxury and ecotourism to attract visitors to the Red Sea coast.

This project is currently the world's largest energy storage project under construction and the world's largest off-grid integrated smart energy project After the project is completed, it will have important demonstration significance and provide useful reference and experience reference for other comprehensive smart energy projects

SPIC Huanghe Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. is cooperating with ACWA to participate in the design, build, operation and transfer of The Red Sea Project’s utilities infrastructure. Power China SEPCO III is the EPC.

The project sits over 28,000 km² of pristine lands and waters, includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 islands, and will set new standards in regenerative tourism and sustainable development With sustainability at its core, supporting infrastructure emphasizes renewable energy, water conservation, and reuse

UAE NetZero by 2050: Going Forward!

RE Integration Pillars and Success Factors

AUTHOR:

FADI MAALOUF Chief Technology Officer Dii Desert Energy

For over a decade, the UAE’s journey towards GHG emissions reduction was an impressive success story It has set the pace in the MENA region with record-breaking renewable energy project tariffs and project capacities GHG emission reduction in the UAE electricity sector, aka green electrons, took centerfold.

Going forward, UAE’s strategy is envisaged to be aligning with two major tipping points Firstly, over the past few years, green molecules emerged from the sidelines since green electron costs have reached levels that enable green molecule production at competitive costs in the near future. Secondly, NetZero by 2050 target requires more than just the electricity sector GHG emissions reduction The complete energy sector is now at focus With that in mind, and in addition to GHG emissions reduction, carbon capture utilization and/or storage (CCU/CCUS) will be required to reinforce NetZero targets CCU/CCUS will not only enable GHG emissions reduction but will also enable the creation of an e-fuels market for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and shipping (e Kerosene, e-Methanol)

An integrated strategy of both green electrons and molecules, amongst others, will be crucial for NetZero achievement How would such an integrated strategy look like and what needs to be considered? At a high level, such an abstract or concept may be formed around a scope and its pillars as follows:

RE Integration General Theme and Scope

Renewable energy integration is no longer just green electrons (power and electricity) The “Green” is now a must-have “Green Electrons” and Green Molecules”.

Going forward, both “Greens” must be considered in a balanced approach, with neither bias nor preference since both are complementary enabling tools for NetZero

Power and electrical systems cannot continue to be silo systems. Green electrons and energy storage are integral parts of such a system, from planning to implementation and market transaction

Back to basics kind reminder: demand side management and energy efficiency are and remain vital objectives on the road towards NetZero.

Solid Foundation Basis:

Human capital is the first foundation pillar Invest in know-how and talent upscaling with local as well as global cooperation viewpoints Training, Innovation, and Technology Centers shall be established at regional hubs

Policy and Regulatory Framework:

Although local policy and framework are vital locally, this will achieve limited success

The framework must be expanded to regional and thereafter global coverage for cooperation and implementation.

Regional frameworks must be established and expanded to encompass both green electron and green molecules grids and networks

Codes and Standards:

Harmonization across borders will unlock massive RE integration and implementation potential o Codes shall transition to hybrid codes, thus encompassing electrons and molecules (power and energy carries), as well as energy storage

Hybrid codes shall be transparent in enabling and addressing green molecules criteria of additionality, geographic correlation, and temporal correlation

Hybrid codes shall adopt transitional phases for green molecules criteria, as well as energy storage

Hybrid codes will unblock the “last miles” for nearly 100% RE-based energy systems.

"Firstly, over the past few years, green molecules emerged from the sidelines since green electron costs have reached levels that enable green molecule production at competitive costs in the near future. Secondly, NetZero by 2050 target requires more than just the electricity sector GHG emissions reduction."

Supply and Demand with respect to long-term contractual arrangements:

Open source contracts shall be established for risk-balanced projects implementation.

Open source contracts achieve fast-track project development and realization

ETS (Emission Trading System):

RE has long suffered from biased direct/indirect subsidies for fossilbased energy

It is time to accelerate the implementation of local and regional ETSs to level the playing field by fairly pricing the environmental cost of energy sources

Funding:

Generally, there is no shortage of funding for manufacturing and project financing capital

The bottleneck is a biased allocation towards fossil-based energy.

RE manufacturing and project funding shall be coupled with suitable risk mitigation measures and guarantees to ensure sustainable low-cost financing

If track records are vital, then there is no doubt that UAE’s NetZero by 2050 will be another proud successful journey

Does Egypt Have A Greener Future With Green Hydrogen?

AUTHOR:

IGNACIO CARRERAS Project Development Manager AMEA Power

Around US$1 3 trillion was invested in clean technology in 2022, a figure expected to rise to more than US$2 trillion by 2030 These investments are being driven by the critical need to mitigate climate change, while also ensuring economies maintain their energy security However, if the global community is to achieve its target of maintaining temperatures below the 1.5°C set out by the Paris Agreement, it will require a rapid adoption of low-carbon solutions across all sectors

As the world transitions away from traditional forms of energy, we will see greater penetration of renewable solutions like wind and solar across electricity networks, along with emerging technologies that will support the balancing of the grid For developing countries, the adoption of clean technologies will bring the opportunity for economic and social development as they attract new investment and create jobs

Over the coming decade, we will also begin to see new regional energy powerhouses emerge as governments that introduce policy frameworks and economic mechanisms unlock private investment In the case of Egypt, the government has recognized this opportunity and is working towards increasing the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 42% by 2035 With the country having some of the best wind and solar resources in the world, it will drive its economy with clean energy, while opening new avenues to become an energy exporter due to its geographical location as a major trading hub between Europe and Asia

Egypt already has experience in delivering major renewable energy projects In 2019, the country commissioned the 1 6GW Benban Solar Park, one of the largest solar projects of its kind in the world. This

experience can be applied to develop other clean energy projects, including green hydrogen, which the Egyptian government is already heavily supporting due to its many applications as an energy carrier.

In November 2022, on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, AMEA Power signed a Framework Agreement to develop a large-scale green hydrogen project, which will serve as a feedstock for the production of green ammonia. The plant will be developed in two 500MW phases and once completed will be able to produce 800,000 tons of green ammonia per year for export

The project was one of several green hydrogen projects that the country is working towards, which in total could attract up to US$80 billion of foreign investment and produce around 3 million tons of green hydrogen a year

According to a recent study conducted by European Investment Bank (EIB), in conjunction with the International Solar Alliance and the African Union, Egypt could produce up to 20 million tons of green hydrogen by 2035, making it the biggest producer in Africa.

As the world enters this new era of clean energy deployment, emerging solutions like green hydrogen will present huge opportunities for countries like Egypt to become major hubs for clean energy AMEA Power is working closely with the Egyptian government to support the delivery of its clean energy ambitions. As these first waves of green hydrogen projects come on stream, it will demonstrate the business case for further projects to be developed in the future We are now entering the decade of green hydrogen

Potential of Green Hydrogen in Egypt

AUTHOR:

ROMAIN RICHE Head of Asset Management, Operations and Maintenance, EDF Renouvelables

Green hydrogen is one of the decarbonized fuels of the future and is expected by many to significantly contribute to the energy transition Green H2 storage can unlock additional benefits from renewable power generation, being a solution to the intermittency issue and therefore is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting the global target of net zero by 2050

Alongside the UN COP27 Climate Conference, the Egyptian government developed with EBRD a national low-carbon hydrogen strategy It was stated it aims to help Egypt contribute eight percent to the global hydrogen market by achieving a production capacity of 1 4GW by 2030, to be used to meet local demand and exports

Egypt is on the way to becoming a global powerhouse in the green energy value chain and a major exporter of low-carbon hydrogen given its potential to produce considerable volumes at a competitive rate

The country has a strategic advantage, having the right mix of components to deliver successful green hydrogen projects

Renewable generation capacity

Egypt has abundant renewable energy resources to generate input electricity for green hydrogen It has large surfaces of land and consistently high wind speeds and high levels of solar radiation

Cost competitiveness

Taking into account the current cost of green electricity accounting for 70% of the green H2 cost, the high level of renewable energy resources and project scales promise to reduce the most significant input cost for green hydrogen production.

In October 2022, the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy highlighted Egypt’s potential of producing green hydrogen at the lowest cost in the world by 2050, saying that its price could stand at $1 7 per kg

Egypt is strategically located across different energy markets Its proximity to Europe and the Middle East makes the country a major potential global export hub for green and clean energy It has in place connecting infrastructure that could be utilized for the transportation and/or storage of hydrogen or its derivatives (such as ammonia) The country is working on turning the Suez Canal into a “green route” to become a transit route for clean energy

As it stands, Egypt’s production of green hydrogen stands at zero, while renewable energy sources account for 11% of the country’s total electricity matrix

During Cop27, Egypt has seen dozens of initial agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) to produce green hydrogen in the zone. Some estimates put the value of green hydrogen and ammonia projects in the pipeline between $60 to $80 billion The market momentum is building fast and now is the time to translate the paper into action

Among many projects, EDF Renewables is developing a large project for green hydrogen and ammonia production in Egypt Over 2 GW of renewable energies will be deployed to power 700 MW electrolyzer and ammonia synthesis plants with clean electricity, generating 80,000 tons per year of green hydrogen and derivative in the Suez Canal Zone This project will contribute to EDF’s recent Hydrogen plan to develop a 3 GW electrolysis capacity by 2030. EDF Renewables is proud to thrive Egypt’s sustainable ambitions by creating local job opportunities in the country and are actively supporting the decarbonization process of the industries

Location & connecting infrastructure

"Green H2 storage can unlock additional benefits from renewable power generation, being a solution to the intermittency issue and therefore is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting the global target of net zero by 2050 "

COVER COVER STORY STORY

Major Development in the Middle East's Solar Sector in 2022

The Middle East has experienced another sweltering summer, with continuous temperatures above 50°C in numerous of the world's hottest cities The Middle East is successfully moving toward being one of the world's top centers for renewable energy. By 2025, solar projects in the area are anticipated to install over several GW of power In line with this, storage projects are picking up, pilot projects have already been carried out, and green hydrogen projects are moderately expanding

Power plants are essential for everything from air conditioning to sewage treatment, seawater desalination, and manufacturing, therefore electricity providers are working nonstop to keep them running

The Middle East may be crucial in the transition to a carbon-neutral future; major fossil fuel-dependent corporations are embracing the transformation and creating numerous opportunities for international investment Etihad Airways of the UAE sold a $600 million sustainability-linked susuk in 2020, while Saudi Electricity Company released $1 3 billion in Islamic bonds to fund green capital projects Huge amounts of oil, gas, and coal are burned to power the area, with residential use accounting for half of the energy demand, mostly due to air conditioning

But solar is pushing its way in more and more

According to the study, the region's most vulnerable areas are currently in danger as a result of the difficulty of maintaining air conditioning when temperatures spike However, the expanding use of solar electricity may lessen this hazard.

The UAE boosted its production of renewable energy by around 20 times between 2015 and 2021, going from 136 MW to 2 7 GW It is also considering some of the largest renewable energy projects in the world, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which could be the biggest solar power plant ever built and have a 5 GW capacity.

In the gulf region's energy revolution, the UAE has been a pioneer Dubai aims to meet 75% of its energy demands from renewable sources by 2050, and the UAE aims to meet 50% of its energy needs by 2030 through carbon-free technology, primarily solar.

With a capacity of 1 18 GW, the solar park at Noor is one of the biggest solar park in the world Over 3 2 million panels are used in the project, which is operational and covers an area of 8 km2 Al Darah will receive a 2 GW solar project, which was decided at the beginning of 2019.

The Northern Emirates, which include Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujeirah, and Umm al-Quwain, have also expressed interest They intend to develop 300 MW of solar projects Additionally, the establishment of a 200 MW solar park is proposed for the emirate of Umm Al-Quwain

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ), for companies interested in developing the 1,500 MW Al Ajban Solar PV Independent Project in Ajban, Abu Dhabi In May 2022, Abu Dhabi issued the EOI for this project It is stated to be Abu Dhabi’s third solar PV IPP, after Al Dhafra and Noor Abu Dhabi.

A new joint venture, HYPR is formed by the leading on-demand refueling and vehicle services company, CAFU, the largest regional distributed solar energy company, SirajPower, and climate impact investor, Creek.

Even though Saudi Arabia has a population that is around five million and uses some of its oil and gas reserves to fuel thermal power plants, the country's summer demand has increased to 64 GW

The largest solar power plant in the Middle East will be built by Saudi Arabia's private utility ACWA Power and a division of the sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) and will be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2025, the 2,060 MW project, which will be built in Al Shuaibah in the province of Mecca, is anticipated to be completed. The project is anticipated to produce enough electricity to power 350,000 families

Under its National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), Saudi Arabia has set lofty goals to raise its renewable energy capacity from 9.5 GW to 27.3 GW, of which 20 GW will come from solar energy Large-scale utility projects are primarily responsible for driving the Saudi Arabian market for solar energy New Saudi Arabian laws that go into effect in 2020 will require power distributors to assist with the installation of rooftop PV systems for homes and businesses that range in size from 1 kW to 2 MW

In 2022, LONGi has announced an agreement to provide 1,292 MW of PV modules to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) an EPC provider for two solar projects under construction in Saudi Arabia The first, located in Jeddah and part of REPDO round II, has a capacity of 388 MW, with the second, located in the industrial city of Sudair,

having a total capacity of 1 5 GW, for which LONGi was awarded a contract for the first 904 MW LONGi Solar also announced the delivery completion of 406 MW of its bifacial PV panels Hi-MO 5, for the Solar plant developed by PowerChina SEPCO III for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Solar PV Project

Alfanar was awarded a 110 MW solar photovoltaic project by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). This will be part of a floating panel system A 380 kV substation is also included in the project, as well as 172 kms overhead transmission lines

Saudi Power Procurement Company launches a tender for a 3 3 GW capacity of renewable energy. Saudi authorities plan to build three wind power stations of around 1.8 GW, and two solar parks of 1 5 GW capacity, one of the two solar power plants will have a total installed power of 1 1 GW It will be located in Al Hanakia in Medina province, west-central Saudi Arabia A 400 MW solar project will be built in Tabarjal, the northernmost town

Jinko Power was awarded the Saad 300 MWp Solar PV Project in the recent public auction for Round 3 Category “B” solar PV projects by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy The Saad 300 MWp project is to be located in Central Province, around 80 km from Riyadh. Electricity generated from the project will be acquired by Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) through a 25-year PPA The construction is scheduled to spread from 2022 to 2023

One of the nations in the Middle East with the greatest levels of solar irradiation is Oman. Despite this, it has just recently begun to invest in solar energy. After a year of development, Oman's first independent solar energy plant, which is also the country's largest utility-scale renewable energy project, recently went online The Ibri 2 solar field is 500 MW in size This bifacial panel installation will assist Oman to reach its goal of having 20% of its electricity come from renewable sources by 2030. While Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWPC) issued an RfP for financial consulting services in support of the development of the 500-MW Ibri III project It is located in the northwest region of the country

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest producer of Oil & Gas in Oman plans to establish a new utility-scale solar-based power plant and a battery storage facility in the northern portion of Block 6 concession in the Sultanate of Oman

Total Energies and Veolia have signed an agreement to start the construction of the largest solar PV system providing power for a desalination plant in Oman, in the city of Sur The power plant will be located on the site of the Sharqiyah Desalination plant, which is a reference in Oman and in the Gulf region, supplying drinking water to more than 600,000 inhabitants of the Sharqiyah region

A consortium consisting of ACWA, Gulf Investment Corporation (“GIC”), and Alternative Energy Projects Co. (“AEPC”), inaugurated Ibri 2, the first solar IPP to be launched under the country’s national renewable energy program and connected to the main national grid The consortium will produce renewable energy over 15 years for the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP)

A crucial component of Jordan's energy mix is solar energy, which is expanding there as well This is because the country's population is growing at a rate of 4-5 % per year, which will require an increase in power production Masdar has signed an MoU with Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to explore collaboration in renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 2 GW

Jordan plans to grow its renewable energy production, primarily solar energy, to 3 2 GW by 2025, with a peak demand of about 3 5 GW at the moment That would put the monarchy close to the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco, which are the region's top solar producers Other nations in the region also have large-scale initiatives to enhance the production of renewable energy

Egypt's capacity for renewable energy is anticipated to rise from 3.51 GW in 2020 to 13.7 GW in 2030, with PV accounting for up to 7 71 GW of the total To significantly speed up the growth of renewable energy in the nation, the Egyptian government has been establishing new feed-in tariffs and other programs By 2022, 10 GW of solar and wind energy projects are anticipated to be developed These initiatives will lessen the nation's reliance on oil and gas while also assisting the nation in achieving its targets under the Paris Climate Agreement

Iraq offers a cautionary tale to other governments whose need is likewise constantly increasing, as the country's rising annual demand has outpaced supply quickly, in part because of rapid population development

Solar power could be useful since it is less expensive, easier to install, and can be set up in huge communities, small factories, or rooftops in a modular fashion.

The summertime surge in electricity demand in Iraq has long been a significant issue Blackouts are frequent because usage increases from roughly 22 6 GW in winter to up to 34 8 GW in summer, which is almost 12 GW more than what the nation can supply. Those who cannot afford backup generators must endure hardships and frequently demonstrate in public

Kuwait is currently working to enhance its installation capacity as a result of its current installation backlog for PV facilities

Installations are heavily reliant on the public sector, like most of the nations in the Middle East region The epidemic has had a significant impact on the solar industry, but the county is adopting incentives for power rates and raising awareness of rooftop solar systems Kuwait may have had a slow start, but it is anticipated that it will soon catch up with other gulf nations and its renewable energy targets

The total amount of electricity produced in Lebanon using fossil fuels would more than treble with just that one power plant A total of ten companies received permits from Lebanon in May 2022 to erect solar power plants with a combined capacity of 10 MW, or at least 10,000 houses

Utilizing their vast abundance of natural resources, several Middle Eastern countries have a natural advantage when it comes to satisfying power demand Going green with large-scale solar projects in the oil-exporting states can reduce the number of hydrocarbons currently burned in thermal power plants While many of the Middle East's main oil exporters used the windfall to construct infrastructure, such as power plants, Iraq and Libya are two nations whose electricity sectors are outdated and in disrepair due to decades of conflict and corruption

The household sector, followed by the industrial and commercial sectors, uses the most electricity in the Middle East region Although the Middle East is currently far behind other regions of the world in terms of the use of rooftop systems, the countries are actively working to ensure they entirely phase out the use of fossil fuels and enhance their output of renewable energy

The switch to clean energy might be the difference between economic calamity and sustainable growth for the major oil importers, including Tunisia, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, which are dealing with rising energy expenses as a result of the recent spike in oil prices.

Some nations are moving quickly, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Egypt, which are now leading the area in solar installations Others have no such restrictions, with Saudi Arabia's Neom project attempting to become the first city in the world to run solely on renewable energy sources, particularly solar.

TECH TECH INSIGHTS INSIGHTS

The Middle East's Move To Renewable Energy Is Built On Solar Technology

2023 is proving to be a crucial year for the development and use of solar power in the Middle East region In the Middle East, where each country seeks to harness the power of Solar, another natural resource that is present in great quantity there, the prospect of accelerated solar capacity is felt more deeply than anywhere else Innovation in solar PV panels is the most crucial step happening in the solar sector The usage of panels has been updated to Mono as well as bifacial from the traditional polycrystalline. Bifacial glass-to-glass panels are an important innovation in the recent past and are being widely accepted in the gulf region due to desert terrain

Saudi Arabia declared that it would be the first nation to completely stop using gasoline by the year 2030 In addition, the Kingdom is constructing the world's first solar farm and wants to create a second one the following year They are even considering exporting their newly discovered solar electricity Over the coming ten years, there will undoubtedly be a significant shift in the Middle East's domination of the energy market; nations like Kuwait are also taking comparable steps in this direction.

The Middle East has long been one of the largest consumers of energy in the world; their average daily consumption is 12 million barrels (bpd), and this number is only anticipated to rise But with the recent historic announcements of the construction of solar power facilities, the stage is set for an energy revolution in the area.

Based on technology, the Middle East solar PV market is categorized into monocrystalline silicon, thin-film, multi-crystalline silicon, and others Amongst all the obtainable technologies, Mono solar panels hold supreme efficacy. Long operational life is the other chief feature that has been steering their adoption over the last few years It procured 55 3% in terms of shares in 2020

By installation, the market is classified into ground-mounted, rooftop, and others. Based on grid type, the market is segregated into on-grid and off-grid. By application, the market is divided into utilities, residential and non-residential

The usage of solar components in the region is almost level due to scorching heat and extremely high solar irradiation, low-quality solar components such as panels, inverters, structures, and tracking solutions will not sustain for a very long time The Middle East is blessed with sunny days more than 360 days in a year, but due to

unawareness and the high cost of Solar penetration, the region was not adopting these technologies and depends more on fossil fuel sources of energy generation such as natural gas, Oil & gas plant, in terms of renewable the region was limited to bioenergy and hydropower

After the signing of the Paris Agreement by a few major countries in the Middle East, the growth of solar deployment has increased and with the advancement of solar cells the electricity generated from Solar become cheaper among the renewable and slowly it gain its market share and with the introduction of large wattage panels with higher efficiency, it's gained attracting in the region Countries adopting solar as the leading source of power generation among renewable, but the days are not too long before solar becomes the leading source of power generation in the middle east region

It is predicted that the Middle East will not only create 1 million jobs with an estimated $500 billion in investment in renewable energy over the next few years but will also increase its power capacity by 60% by 2023 According to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), "the region's oil industry is looking increasingly out of fashion as governments look to deploy more renewable and nuclear power Wind and solar PV are starting to look cheaper, on a purely economic basis, than oil-fired power plants Electricity demand growth is set to slow as a consequence of improving efficiencies in sectors such as transport and industry. Entirely possible too, with the emission of greenhouse gases being reduced by at least a third

Many Middle Eastern countries are implementing various technologies to facilitate easy access to solar electricity as a result of the major energy transition toward renewable sources, mainly solar Due to the sandy weather in the area, many developers use dust-free solar panels in their project locations Additionally, several nations in the Middle East have begun implementing distributed solar Energy storage systems, indicating that solar energy will become more and more important in the coming years The latest solar PV inverter, large solar panels with higher wattages, as well as bifacial modules, multi-layer cut cells, and other cutting-edge technologies are being tested by numerous Chinese enterprises in the area. After China and India, the region has emerged as Asia's solar powerhouse, and as a result, nations in the region, like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have had access to the majority of solar technology's most recent innovations