ENPARK & MESIA SUPPORTING THE SOLAR INDUSTRY
Dubai, UAE:
EnPark, the TECOM Business Park facilitating the growth of
Energy and Environment businesses in the MENA Region, and the Middle
East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) hosted a business breakfast
with industry leaders in the solar energy industry.
MESIA is the largest solar
association in the Middle East designed to expand the use of solar
power in the region, strengthen the local solar industry, and to
facilitate business opportunities for its members.
During a presentation at the event, president of MESIA Vahid Fotuhi
stated that although the MENA region has more than 16,500MW of
renewable capacity, the vast majority of this is in the form of
hydropower.
Fotuhi expanded on by citing the growth potential of solar in the
Middle East, with Saudi Arabia being the biggest market, with an
ambitious target of 23,900MW of renewable capacity planned by 2020,
of this at least 10,000MW will be in the form of solar energy.
Jordan was cited as the second largest opportunity because due to its
limited hydrocarbon resources. The country is focused on ensuring
that 10% of its overall consumption to be powered by renewable energy
by 2020.
Dubai has positioned itself as a market of huge potential, with the
Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 aiming to increase Dubai’s
solar consumption to 5% of the total power consumed. Dubai
Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) recently opened the tender for
the second phase of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the
1,000MW project worth Dh1 billion, bolstering its placement as a MENA
solar growth market.
Marwan Abdulaziz, Executive Director of TECOM Investment's Science
cluster that includes EnPark, the freezone facilitating the
growth of the energy and environment sector in the Middle East said
“Within the solar industry, it is important to work together. At
EnPark, we strive to support our business partners achieve their
business objectives by providing tailored real estate and support to
achieve the goals of Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy. By 2030, the
Emirate aims to increase solar energy to include 5% of the total
power consumed to enhance the alternative energy and environmental
industry and Dubai’s green economy.”
