Distinguish guests
It is my pleasure to share with you the Qatar Solar Summit 2014 in Doha, where a great gathering from experts, professionals, manufactures and investors will discuss issues related to the Solar power in Qatar and in whole the Middle East.
The studies studies showed that in 2030 there will be more than (8) billion people around the world, and World electricity generation is forecast to grow by 70% and this with no doubt creates a great challenge.
Rapid technological progress, combined with falling costs, a better understanding of financial risk, and a growing appreciation of wider benefits of solar energy, means that renewable energy is increasingly seen as the answer for that challenge.
The good news is that private finance is increasingly ready to step in , due to growing experience, developers are getting better at forecasting cash flow and financiers are more able to accurately assess risks.
Ladies & Gentlemen
The cost of capital is falling and products are being tailored for a wider range of investors, from small-scale communities to large institutions. Good funding initiatives, can also be used to attract capital, especially in developing countries where cost of capital is traditionally high.
The global roadmap developed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), shows that not only can renewable energy meet the world’s rising demand, but it can do so more cheaply, while contributing to limiting global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius .
Distinguish guests
By 2030, Qatar aims to be an advanced society capable of sustaining its development and providing a high standard of living for its entire people under the wise leader ship of HH Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani , the Amir of Qatar .
Qatar is turning now to renewable energies with some initiatives already underway, and a strong commitment by Qatar’s visionary leaders to sustainable development.
To align with QNV2030 Kahramaa reviewed it strategy and establish its 2030 road map as well to cope with QNV 2030. Many initiatives were considered within Kahramaa new strategy, on top of them, the transformation toward the smart grids and full deployment of solar energy potential within the state of Qatar.
Work is currently underway, as the 200MW solar program already started with 10 MW PV pilot project within Kahramaa premises.
Ladies & Gentlemen
Overall, the Arab region enjoys a rich region of renewable energy resources, particularly solar and wind energies. In fact, the region’s conditions are so favorable to electricity production that, a transition to a renewable-based power system is economically more feasible and more attractive than in most other regions of the world.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that CSP technologies alone could generate a hundred times more electricity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region than the electricity consumption of the Arab region and Europe combined (IEA, 2010).
Middle East States need to re-think to improve institutional frameworks, Renewable Energy pricing mechanism, upgrade grid infrastructure, ensure the availability of finance and build the skilled workforce for accelerated renewable energy deployment to establish renewable energy markets in power generation and water heating to meet the population growth, economic expansion, industrialization, urbanization, rural development, scarcity of water resource and climate change issues in their countries.
Distinguish guests
Ladies & Gentlemen
Before ending my speech I wish you all a nice stay in Qatar and hope that your summit outcomes and recommendations will clear all the barriers and difficulties to promote the solar energy industry in Qatar and MENA region. And I want to extend my great thanks to the organizer, exhibitors and all attendees for their contribution and making this summit a successful event.
