RENEWABLE ENERGY in MENA Region: Assets and Challenges Mustapha Taoumi, Project Officer, MENA Region
Contents 1. Worldwide situation 2. Potential in MENA countries 3. Actual situation 4. Assets 5. Challenges 6. Recommendations
1. WORLEWIDE SITUATION Global Market Overview 2009 RE currently amounts to 19% of the global final energy consumption (Nuclear 2.8%) Investment in new RE capacity : 150 billion USD (130 bill USD in 2008) RE power capacity ( Including all Hydro) : 1,230 GW (Up 7% from 2008) 2009 Capacity: Large hydropower 980 GW Wind 159 GW Biomass power 52 GW Solar PV grid connected 21 GW Solar hot water capacity : 180 GW th Geothermal : 10.7 GW CSP 0,6 GW Tidal power 0,3 GW
- RE technologies become more and more mature but some of them require more time/ more R&D support/more subsidies - The price of electricity coming from RE will be substantially reduced, and will become at the end very competitive ( lesson learned, economy of scale, technology transfer,.)
2. RE Potential in MENA Region: Solar
Middle East and North African Region Each square kilometer of land in the MENA region receives every year an amount of solar energy that is equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of crude oil The 6000 square kilometers of Lake Nasser in Egypt (Aswan) receive an amount of energy every year that is equivalent to the present Middle East oil production
2. RE Potential in MENA Region: Wind
3. ACTUAL SITUATION Many pilot projects and R&D activities in several countries (North Africa and Middle East): Rural PV Electrification,... SWH, desalination,... Wind (small capacities)
3. ACTUAL SITUATION Many important projects have been carried out in North Africa: Morocco (Rural PV Electrification, Wind Farms, CSP..) Tunisia ( SWH, Wind Farms,...) Egypt ( Wind Farms, CSP,...)
3. ACTUAL SITUATION Several countries have set up a legal and institutional framework: Egypte Tunisia Morocco Jordan
3. ACTUAL SITUATION legal and institutional framework in Morocco: A new law for Renewable Energy has been approved by the Moroccan government and adopted by the parliament. This law aims to develop renewable energies in Morocco, through the promotion of energy production from renewable energy sources, The new law opens the door for additional investments in Morocco through the establishment of electric power facilities managed by persons or legal entities( public or private sectors or both) Meet local demand but also for export (UE,...)
3. ACTUAL SITUATION legal and institutional framework in Morocco: Capacity < 20 kw : Free Capacity < 2 MW > 20 kw: declaration needed Capacity > = 2 MW: permit needed Conection to the grid: autorization needed No specific incentives and/or subsidies are mentionned!!!
3. ACTUAL SITUATION Also several targets have been fixed Renewable energy targets until 2020: Wind Farms ( 2000 MW) CSP ( 2000 MW) New Eco Cities
3. ACTUAL SITUATION Electricity system dominated by public utility Market still open to IPPs PPA for RE projects ( wind farms) Selling Prices fixed by the utility ( direct agreement) Absence of regulatory entity or independent national regulatory commission ( utility play a double role as producer and as regulator!!!) No transparency in electricity prices (Subsidies to fossil fuels,...) Prices are very sensitive to purchasing power of the consumers
3. ACTUAL SITUATION FIT is not on the track for the time being Actual tendency is to improve the intervention of the national dedicated RE fund : supporting new projects in RE and EE International and regional financial institutions are encouraged to offer a variety of financial packages favoring RE, such as soft loans and grants.
4. ASSETS Huge Solar Potential Good experience in solar and wind technologies Space for RE capacities
5. CHALENGES The electricity sector are not yet in tune with the wider redeployment of Renewable Energy Lack in financial mechanisms and financial support Lack in subsidies and incentives (who is responsible of the maturation of RE technologies??? International solidarity)
6. GENARAL RECOMMENDATIONS Diversifying experiences affecting other mature technologies that have a sizeable market potential: Offshore wind farms, Desalination, Solar cooling PV integration in Buildings,
6. GENARAL RECOMMENDATIONS Setting and achieving goals to accomplish RE objectives Implementing a global policy with: o Long terms RE and electricity standards and goals up to 20 years o Good governance of the electricity sector (transparency, equity, efficiency, ) o Direct incentives (Producers and consumers) o Loan assistance o Government leadership by example o Capacity building and outreach
6. GENARAL RECOMMENDATIONS Reinforcement of the role of international and regional financial institutions ( Soft loans, grants, regional funds, ) Regional cooperation Technology transfer
Regional Market Integration
Regional Market Integration 1- Creation of a RE Regional Hub 2- Local industries 3- Job creations 4- Carbon Finance 5- Regional RE Fund
What IRENA Should support? The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was officially established in Bonn on 26 January 2009. To Date 148 states and the European Union signed the Statute of the Agency; amongst them are 48 African, 38 European, 35 Asian, 17 American and 10 Australia/Oceania States. Mandated by these governments worldwide, IRENA will promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms or renewable energy. IRENA will provide advise and support to governments worldwide on RE policy, capacity building, financing and technology transfer.
What IRENA Should support? Main activities: 1- Knowledge Management 2- Policy Advice 3- Financing Advice 4- Capacity Building 5- Outreach
Statistics IEA Eurostat.. Development Agencies UNEP, UNIDO, UNESCO National agencies Member States Governments IRENA Financing Institutions World Bank Regional Banks Multilateral Funds Stakeholders International/ Regional institutions NGOs Networks Private sector Associations
Thank you for your attention! IRENA C 67 Office Building, Khalidiyah(32nd) Street P.O. Box 236 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates m.taoumi@irena.org www.irena.org