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Massive growth in the Middle East's new and renewable energy sector expected.
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| 28 Dec 2006 |
Drastic increases in oil prices and increased awareness of the limited availability of traditional fossil fuels is giving the new and renewable energy sector enormous momentum, with many of the world leaders in the field of photovoltaics (solar power), wind power and other environmentally friendly energy schemes accelerating product innovations that are being embraced across the region as alternative power sources.
The landmark Bahrain World Trade Centre towers will be the first of their kind in the world to use wind energy. Wind power will be harnessed by the building's three massive turbines, which are supported by bridges between the two towers, and will provide around 11-15% of the electricity needs of the two office towers.
Also in Bahrain, the master-planned US$1.3 billion Bahrain Financial Harbour development will be fed by the innovative North Shore District Cooling Network, phase one of which is due to be completed by the start of 2007. It will provide about 30,000 Tons of Refrigeration (TR) to the entire complex. District cooling is gaining popularity because it delivers value to customers in comparison with conventional approaches to building cooling, and it consumes far less energy than conventional cooling systems. According to a recent study, district cooling will reduce peak power demand in Bahrain by over 400 MW by 2020.
District cooling is being developed in Bahrain without reliance on potable water supplies, as it can use seawater to directly cooling the chillers, or incorporate water treatment plants for producing cooling tower make-up water. Alternatively, irrigation water or other non-potable water can be used. The end result is a win for the environment as well as for district cooling customers.
'District cooling can save governments throughout the region substantial power, water infrastructure and operational costs,' said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director Exhibitions, IIR Middle East - organisers of The Middle East Electricity Exhibition, that will take place at Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 11-14 February 2007 - the event will showcase many of these new innovations as part of its strong annual focus on the New and Renewable Energy sector.
'Booming development in Bahrain is creating significant new demands for power and water,' added Woodbridge. 'Centrifugal water-cooling chiller plants reduce power demand by almost half and its natural gas-powered water-cooling chiller plants reduce power consumption by over 90% - it also leads to reductions in air pollution and carbon dioxide - the greenhouse gas that causes global warming.' The Government of Dubai recently announced its adoption of a 'Sustainable Development Policy', a unique new initiative that applies world-class social and environmental standards to the organisation's activities. A new Renewable Energy Division will be responsible for 'green' buildings, energy and water conservation and management, value-added real estate and 'green' power generation, and intends to set an example for other Dubai-based organisations in developing sustainable development practices. It is creating an in-house team of experts in 'Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design' (LEED®), the world's premier certification programme for sustainable buildings.
The International Energy Group (IEG), the region's first international strategic alliance to promote clean and renewable energy, also recently announced a new initiative to support the ongoing efforts to rebuild Lebanon by providing sustainable infrastructure know-how. Lebanon imports around 97% of its energy needs, which has adverse economic and environmental effects. This initiative is designed to help create easy access to know-how, world-class expertise and project development in the utilisation of advanced energy technologies and sustainable design principles that have proved to be a success in providing credible economic, social and environmental benefits.
Further encouragement for new and renewable energy comes from the fact that property investors in Jordan and the UAE have expressed their satisfaction concerning the implementation of energy-efficient solutions in buildings and various premises which drastically reduce energy costs, especially given the real estate boom across the region. The availability of advanced energy-efficient solutions has attracted investors in the property and real estate sector to invest in both countries at a time when they were witnessing an escalation of energy costs.
'Recent studies have shown that energy consumption in Jordan during the year 2004 was approximately JD 1.153 Billion, and Jordon's energy demands during the next decade is expected to be about 2,399 MW, costing in the region of $USD 3.1 billion. These figures underline the importance of increasing public-private partnerships to formulate a national strategy to reduce energy consumption,' added Woodbridge.
Sigificantly, the implementation of energy efficient systems is capable of saving energy even in existing buildings, with the systems not only reduce the operating costs of the project but also significantly reduces the capital cost of the project.
Countries throughout the region are actively looking to implement energy efficient systems, and many have conducted studies in the field of renewable energy resources, the implementation of energy saving systems in street lighting, water pumping stations and for electricity generation.
'Typical of the huge growth in the new and renewable energy sector is photovoltaics, which had a worldwide turnover of €5.8 billion last year and a growth rate of around 40%,' said Woodbridge. 'Demand has been so high that there was a global shortage of silicon, the raw material essential to the industry, and this clearly illustrates the global trend that is seeing governments seriously look at the possibilities offered by alternative energy sources - the Middle East, with a virtually unlimited source of sunlight, is ideally placed to take full advantage of solar power.'
Middle East Electricity will feature leading regional and international companies in the fields of photovoltaics, wind power and other alternative sources of energy, both new and renewable. 'Faced with massive population growth and in the midst of unparalleled growth in the commercial and residential sectors, governments across the region are proving eager to invest in efficient and cost effective ways to address their immediate, pressing power requirements, so there is great potential,' added Woodbridge.
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