MENA Region Expects to See Massive Renewable Energy Addition

In the future years, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) area is likely to experience a tremendous increase in capacity for solar, wind, and green energies. In the coming years, an increase to 100 GW is possible. This is all according to Dii Desert Energy’s Cornelius Matthes.

MENA’s Energy Production

Currently, the region produces solar energy for as little as 2 cents per kWh and wind energy for as little as 3 cents per kWh. On the other hand, the United States’ largest climate initiative, which includes a $369 billion commitment throughout ten years, could reduce the cost of hydrogen generation to $1 per kg by 2025, putting pressure on other countries to comply.

Interestingly, Egypt has the potential to become the world’s refueling station. Egypt is now home to 24 of the 61 large hydrogen projects planned around the world. 

Zawya Projects revealed in September that the Middle East is the third biggest contributor to global hydrogen investments projected until 2030. Oman and Morocco might also add projects larger than their current energy systems. 

Every year, millions of tonnes of ammonia are delivered to the MENA region. As a result, nothing needs to be recreated or produced in order to boost fertilizer manufacturing with renewable ingredients.

How Can Europe Keep Up

There are already multiple gas pipes in the western Mediterranean that can carry hydrogen. Approximately 85 percent of the current facilities may be utilized, and comparable infrastructure initiatives for hydrogen production are being explored in the eastern Mediterranean region.

A hydrogen pipeline might be built using existing gas infrastructure from Algeria and Morocco. In addition, a new hydrogen network from Italy to Greece will be built, traversing the Mediterranean Sea to Egypt, and might eventually be expanded to the rest of the MENA area.

Experts, however, emphasize the importance of taking a flexible approach to licenses and regulations until green hydrogen generation reaches a particular scale. In Europe, the allowable limit is 3 kg of CO2 per kg of hydrogen, thus technology such as carbon sequestration can be introduced in the sector.

To Zawya’s query about how climate-conscious governments or customers would deal with standards, certificates, and criteria surrounding the source of energy, the answer is that too many conditions will stymie the industry’s evolution. Still, it’s a work in progress.

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