MENA Clean Energy in Review - January 2016 
CEBC News

Update from the Board
Welcome back and Happy New Year.  Momentum continues with 2016 off to a great start with the 9th edition of the World Future Energy Summit held in Abu Dhabi this month.  The Summit is the first global clean energy gathering to take place following COP21 and saw government leaders, ministers, heads of state and key industry stakeholders come together to further discussions and address critical issues facing the future of energy. Technology innovations, policy and regulatory frameworks, and financing clean energy across the region remained a strong focus with energy efficiency also playing a key role.

This week, the UAE Minister of Energy, Suhail Al Mazrouei, announced cuts would be made in energy subsidies.  This follows recent announcements by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that they will gradually reduce government subsidies on energy products to counter the slump in oil revenue.

CEBC has a busy schedule of events planned throughout 2016 beginning with half day events on Solar Leasing and the Implementation of Distributed Solar in MENA on 1 March, Project Financing Clean Energy in MENA and Emerging Renewables Markets: Focus on Iran in April, as well as a regional conference on Financing Sustainable Energy & Water Conservation in partnership with the UNDP and Islamic Development Bank also in May.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and wish you a prosperous and successful 2016.  
 
Mhairi Main Garcia
Director

Energy efficiency key to meet skyrocketing energy demand
CEBC has joined forces with Masdar, Emirates Green Building Council, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the  World Future Energy Summit to launch  WFES Energy Efficiency Expo 2017. Worldwide, energy efficiency investment is set to reach $385 billion per year, according to a report by IRENA, with investment in energy-efficient buildings alone set to reach $125 billion by 2020. To meet the region's rapid energy growth, the Middle East requires $555 billion in total energy infrastructure investment by 2030, according to a report by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, University of Cambridge and PwC. [Watch the Press Conference Video]

The Future of  Clean Energy in MENA | TV Interview with Sky News Arabia
CEBC Chairman H.E. Dr. Nasser Saidi, discusses the future of cleantech across the MENA region, the role Clean Energy Business Council plays in furthering education, development, implementation and investment, and the potential for the UAE to become the global hub for clean energy financing.   [Watch the TV Interview]

Photo Gallery from World Future Energy Summit
The  World Future Energy Summit  hosted by Masdar took place in Abu Dhabi last week and CEBC was delighted to once again participate in the many activities that took place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The conference provided a forum to address  Speakers, Heads of States and Ministers who shared their visions and discussed the most critical issues surrounding the future of energy in front of over 2,000 conference attendees from over 50 countries. [View the photo gallery]

Women in Clean Energy (WICE)
January has been a busy month for WICE with committees formed in the  UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and  Jordan, and  CEBC Chairman Dr. Nasser Saidi and representatives from the WICE Board of Directors met with a delegation from the Foreign Ministry of Iceland to discuss gender equality issues and women in energy in the MENA region.  The next  WICE event will take place on  2 March at the  IBIS Hotel, World Trade Centre, Dubai from  9am to 10:45am and further details will be available shortly.  To get involved please email [email protected]
.

CEBC School's Program: Recyclable Waste Competition
CEBC in partnership with leading environmental management company  Bee'ah will run an Inter Schools competition on recyclable waste in February.  Children must create a Forest of Trees, Plants and Flowers, made out of recyclable waste that they have collected from home. The winning school will receive a cash prize of AED15,000 to be used to purchase sustainable products as well as an in depth environmental awareness workshop conducted by the  Bee'ah School of Environment team. CEBC thanks Bee'ah for its ongoing support to further awareness and education in the environmental sector. To get involved please email  Sarah De Clercq [email protected] .

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CEBC Events

Solar Leasing & Implementation of Distributed Solar in MENA
Seminar
Date:
Time:
Venue:
1 March 2016
08:30am to 11:30am
Novotel Hotel, World Trade Centre, Dubai

Clean Energy Business Council in partnership with   Yellow Door Energy  presents an overview of how distributed solar is becoming a reality in the Middle East. Meet the companies involved in the Shams Dubai program, learn what's happening with regulation and understand why companies are choosing the solar lease as a preferred option to go solar.  Register Here
 
Event Organiser

Sponsor
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Project Financing Clean Energy in MENA
Breakfast Briefing
Date:
Time:
Venue:
 April 2015
8:30am to 3:00pm
Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai, UAE

Renewable energy project financing is complex.  Clean Energy Business Council in collaboration with the  Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association welcomes you to join us for this half day conference to discuss sustainable  clean   energy project financing in MENA, and new ways of thinking about finance and capital.  Our leading global industry experts will shed light on project financing structures, latest financial innovations ,  share case studies   and   discuss  the role of multilateral banks in supporting developers compared to local financiers.  This event provides a fantastic opportunity for developers, finance institutions and industry stakeholders to share ideas and to meet potential partners.

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Emerging Renewables Markets: Focus on Iran
High Level Thought Leadership Breakfast Briefing
Date:
Time:
Venue:
To be advised
08:30am to 12:00pm
Dubai, UAE

Reports and Publications

Renewable Energy Market Analysis: The GCC Region| IRENA
The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) could reap multiple benefits from scaling up renewable energy use, including reducing water withdrawal by 11 trillion litres (or 16%) and saving 400 billion barrels of oil in the power sector, creating 2000, direct jobs and reducing the region's per capita carbon footprint 8% by 2030. Renewable Energy Market Analysis: The GCC Region looks at the opportunities and barriers for renewable energy deployment in the GCC economies and offers recommendations for greater integration of renewables into the regional energy mix.  [Download Report]

As countries turn their attention to increase their ambition in tackling climate change, companies are increasingly taking responsibility for their role in reducing emissions. Findings from the survey, show many businesses face important barriers which hinder them from taking advantage of the energy and water efficiency opportunity. To truly unleash the potential for a low-carbon economy, these key barriers faced by businesses in energy and water efficiency must be addressed.
[Download Report]

UAE State of Energy Report 2016| UAE Ministry of Energy
The Ministry of Energy launched 'The UAE State of Energy Report 2016', prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Dubai Carbon, during the World Future Energy Summit. The annual report is the leading benchmark publication on the country's energy sector. Launched first in 2015, the UAE State of Energy Report was developed to bring together industry thought leaders and to support the sustainable development of the country's federal energy sector.    [Download Report]
UAE State of Green Economy Report 2016 | DCCE and UNDP
Dubai has been open to the world as a hub for trade - not just for goods and services, but the trade of ideas as well.  The State of Green Economy Report 2016 is a review and critical reflection of the findings of the World Green Economy Summit, held annually in October in Dubai. The publication indexes green economic development, meanwhile, offering a platform for national and international experts, and thought leaders to share findings of research and development, solutions, tools, as well as replicable initiatives and case studies.
[Download Report]

CEBC Members & Partners News



In 2004, a South African entrepreneur took a drive into the California desert with his wife and cousin, on their way to the Burning Man cultural festival.  From that drive an idea was hatched for a company selling energy from the sun. Two years later, SolarCity was founded, and it is now a $4 billion firm employing more than 13,000 people. It is also America's largest provider of  solar power . And the cousin who sparked the idea during that road-trip? That would be Elon Musk, founder and chairman of Tesla Motors and SpaceX.  This anecdote is especially timely as the World Future Energy Summit takes place this week in Abu Dhabi.  [Read more]

Interview with Sami Khoreibi, CEO, Enviromena
The drop in oil prices and the reduction in government budget will act as catalyst to boost the solar industry in the Middle East, the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi based Enviromena Power Systems told Gulf News in an interview.  [Read more]

10 Predictions for 2016: Sunny with a hint of Gotterdammerung | Bloomberg New Energy Finance
By Michael Liebreich, Chairman of the Advisory Board, BNEF
I t's January, and that means it's time for my annual predictions for the clean energy sector.  At the start of 2013, I wrote: "The smoke is clearing from the energy sector's equivalent of the Battle of Borodino. The battlefield is littered with dead clean energy companies, and more will die of their wounds in the coming months. And yet, all is not lost. The drivers propelling the world to a cleaner energy system are, like Russia's resources in fighting against Napoleon's invasion, almost limitless. With patience and time, 2013 could mark the start of a very positive phase for the clean energy sector."[Read more]

Egypt could grow its solar market by around half a gigawatt in 2016, says a new report by the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA).  The MESIA Middle East Solar Outlook for 2016, unveiled at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, forecasts Egypt to begin 1.5 GW of solar PV construction this year, with around one-third of that - 500 MW - possibly brought online before year close. [Read more]

GCC hydrocarbon economies setting global benchmark in race for renewable energy
The COP21 climate change deal, signed last week in Paris, confirms that the leaders of 200 nations are now committed to embracing renewable energy as an important tool to limiting the rise of the ambient temperature on earth without compromising on continuing to provide much needed energy to fuel social development and economic growth. Commenting on what the deal meant for the Middle East and Africa, Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO of ACWA Power, said: "The deal signed in Paris has the potential to fundamentally change forever the way the world generates and utilizes electricity."   [Read more]


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Featured Jobs

Company:
Position
Start Date		 GreenEmirates Consultants
Sales Engineer - Energy Efficiency, Amman
Negotiation
The Company is one of the well-established ESCO consultancies in the UAE with a strong and growing presence across the GCC. For their Jordan operations, they are looking for a Sales Engineer - Energy Efficiency.  In conjunction with the local team in the UAE will be proactive in doing business development and bring in new projects for the technical team in Jordan, e valuating and synthesizing of all necessary information to introduce cost effective solutions to industrial and commercial sectors [read more]

Company
Position
Start Date
DNV - GL
Solar Engineer, UAE
Negotiation
The role will involve working within the Solar team to provide technical consulting services throughout the development, procurement and construction phases of solar farm projects, including procurement assistance, technical due diligence and acting as Lender's and Owner's Engineer during the construction phase.The work will involve overall management of complex commercial and technical projects, resourced from multiple internal business streams, alongside management of client interfaces. [Read more]

MENA Clean Energy News

Saudi Arabia's unstoppable utilities market
Saudi Arabia's utilities market remains an attractive destination for ambitious investors, despite a sustained period of low oil prices and the resultant fiscal consolidation.  Resilience in the sector is underpinned by the kingdom's solid macroeconomic trajectory, supportive demographics and robust power sector capacity expansion plans.  Saudi Arabia is the biggest power market of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and analysts forecast increased investment in utilities over the next ten years and beyond, to meet rising demand from a growing population. [Read more]

National Bank of Abu Dhabi allocates $10bn for renewable energy projects
The UAE's National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) has committed to lend $10bn over the next ten years for projects related to renewable energy and sustainable activities.  The bank's 'Financing the Future of Energy Report' forecasts that $48tn is required to in the next 20 years to meet global energy needs.  NBAD CEO Alex Thursby said: "The world is heading towards a very significant funding gap for energy globally. [Read more]

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and DEWA organise Solar Decathlon Middle East with AED 10 M in prizes
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has invited university teams from around the world to participate in the Solar Decathlon Middle East, which was created through an agreement between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and DEWA, and the United States Department of Energy.  [Read more]

UAE to cut remaining energy subsidies, minister says
The UAE will extend its economic diversification strategy by removing further subsidies on energy, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE's Energy Minister, to ld the World Economic Forum in Davos.   In particular, Mr Al Mazrouei said he was planning to scrap subsidies on electricity and on gas sold to power generators. [Read more]

UAE eyes new clean energy generation target by 2030
The UAE is looking to increase its target for power generation from clean energy to 30 per cent by 2030, the energy minister said yesterday.  "What we know is that at least 25 per cent [of electricity] is going to be from both  nuclear  and solar," Suhail Al Mazrouei said after a ceremony to launch the third annual State of Energy report. [Read more]

China, Egypt sign $17 billion in investment deals as Xi tours Mideast
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his country's plans to help Egypt improve its infrastructure by aiding in the construction of around $15 billion worth of projects.  Mr. Xi said the projects, which range from the energy to transportation sectors, aimed to  increase Egypt's industrial capacity , reports Reuters. Some have already been launched and others are still under review, he said at a joint news conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. [Read more]

India Eager to Work with Iran on Renewable Energy
An Indian minister voiced her country's enthusiasm for cooperation with Iran to develop joint projects on renewable energy resources, including solar energy.   Speaking to Tasnim, India's Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said New Delhi is keen to cooperate with Tehran for development of renewable energy plants in the two countries and in the region. [Read more]

Iran and China hail 'new chapter' as Xi wraps up Middle East tour
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday hailed a "new chapter" in relations with China after talks with President Xi Jinping, who is touring the region to boost Beijing's economic influence. The countries aim to build economic ties worth up to $600bn within the next 10 years, Rouhani announced.  [Read more] 

EFG Hermes Holding SAE, the largest independent Arab investment bank, plans to build a portfolio of renewable-energy investments in Europe and the Middle East over the next five years as utilities in those regions add cost-competitive solar and wind operations.   [Read more]

Fines to curb water, electricity waste in Qatar
Qatar's utility distributor Kahramaa has begun implementing a law which prescribes deterring fines for wasting electricity and water.  The penalty for wasting water through a hose or pressure pipe can reach up to QR20,000 for first time violators, while wasting electricity can make one cough up QR10,000 as fine. Fines can be doubled if a violation is repeated within a period of three years .   [Read more]  

Egypt revives wind turbine plans
Egypt has set its sights on becoming a regional manufacturing hub for wind energy despite delays in the country's renewable energy targets.  Multinational companies such as Siemens and General Electric are looking to develop wind energy manufacturing plants in Egypt while a local company, El Sewedy Electric, is keen to revive pre-revolution plans.  The North African country wants to install 2,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2022, as part of its 4,300MW total goal of renewables that also include 2,000MW of solar and 300MW of hydropower. [Read more] 

Industry Events and Conferences

Saudi Water & Electricity Forum
7-9 February 2016, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Solar Power North Africa
8-11 February 2016, Cairo, Egypt
Solar Middle East 2016
1-3 March 2016, Dubai, UAE
6th Middle East & North Africa Renewable Energy Conference
4-6 April 2016, Kuwait
Morocco Projects - Solar, Wind, Hydro
4-5 April 2016, Rabat, Morocco
 
Dubai Solar Show
4-6 October 2016, Dubai, UAE



CEBC  members are entitled to discounts on the above events.  For the discount codes please email 
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Kind regards,

Sarah Fitzgerald
Marketing & Communications Director
m:  +971 56 659 1153

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