The Culture of Solar Energy...and The English's love of tea.

If we step back and take a birds eye view on the current momentum of today's solar energy industry and business markets, it strikes us with awe at how this specific industry is humbly picking up speed, crunching pricing/tariff records, as well the fast paced R&D of producing cheaper, lighter and more efficient solar panels. Only within the last 5 years, did we witness how the cost of a solar panel has fallen down to around 80% of what it used to cost. Some even called it the 'beautiful math of solar power', where in everytime the world's solar power doubles, the cost of panels falls by 26%. We're seeing now not just CPV (Concentrated Photo Voltaic) but also BIPV (Building Integrated Photo-Voltaic) panels and modules that enables architects and building owners to 'tango' to a certain extent their building design's aesthetics alongside capturing the sun's energy. In a wonderful amalgamation of culture , building aesthetics and Solar Energy...the Black Friars(Station) Bridge across the Thames River in London, has a full-array of roof top mounted solar panels, aesthetically mounted and tilted towards the sun, generating enough energy to heat and serve 79,000 cups of English tea daily; and mind you that was demonstrated upon the initiation of the bridge's solar power generation. Who knows, perhaps one day Dubai, Ajman, or Sharjah may initiate a similar solar power-enabled bridge serving 'Karak Chai'...or freshly brewed Arabic coffee! Or besides that, more importantly, generate enough power to operate lighting, security, and traffic systems on such public infrastructure facilities, reducing carbon foot print, generating free power, and so on...

Furthermore, I for one, would be certain that the mindset of of building owners embracing solar energy, would steer mankind into designing homes, buildings and facilities that would enhance and optimize the usage of roof top mounted solar panels. As of now, roughly speaking, only 20 to 25% of all buildings are strong enough, nor are well oriented to have sun facing roof top mounted solar systems. Food for thought for the next generation of urban planners.

We have quite a busy upcoming program of events for the next coming months. In addition to MESIA's successfully held 'Managing the Challengers of Storage' with our proud MESIA members DNVGL two days ago, we are planning a well set up agenda for a MESIA Trade Mission to Jordan & Palestine (held in Amman, Jordan), our third year running project finance event, our partnership with Intersolar ME, a CSP event, and ELECTRIX in Egypt. As always, we cordially invite our members to participate in terms of speakers, discussion groups, and exhibiting, to avail themselves from the vast array of MESIA membership privileges.

Thoughts on our 'multifaceted' solar market, straight from the engineers and installers.

Solar energy is our future. It is abundant, clean, cost efficient, environmentally and economically friendly. There is no noise, minimal pollution, no greenhouse gases and tons of carbon savings. The solar systems themselves require little maintenance, panel technology has matured to deliver a long life and the balance of the systems are robust and easily maintained. With all of these advantages, how do we increase market penetration here in the UAE. Apart from the successful launch of the large DEWA utility scale systems, we also need the development of the local rooftop market which is growing but perhaps not as fast as we would expect. Currently the main inhibiting factors affecting a large uptake of commercial and industrial potential clients revolve around the following:

1. A lack of knowledge around the systems themselves and their integration with the DEWA power grid
2. The opportunity cost of allocating scarce cash resources to a rooftop solar investment in place of an investment in their core business
3. The generally long term leases (15 to 20 years) that are required to ensure a return to a 3rd party solar investor/developer
4. Uncertainty around the treatment of the power generated in buildings that have tenanted clients when the tenants vacate or change

Those of us in the business of solar system provision need to consistently and coherently address these concerns and through our industry organisation, MESIA, ensure that we get the message out to the commercial and industrial businesses. Solar is safe and sustainable, reliable, critical for the planet, good for their bottom line and whether self-financed or through a 3rd party developer, there is no large rooftop that should not be covered(apart from capturing free sun energy, we're also shielding our house's concrete from absorbing unnecessary heat radiation). It’s in all of our interests to increase the size of the solar market to ensure a broad uptake of this planet saving technology.

IRENA's Global Atlas for Renewable Energy Offers Free Solar Resource Data

As countries and industry look to incorporate more solar power into their energy mix, it is critical that they understand the size and location of the resources available to them. However, sometimes this data is difficult to find or expensive to purchase. The International Renewable Energy Agency’s Global Atlas for Renewable Energy aims to alleviate this problem by facilitating open access to renewable energy data, analysis and methods.

Read more | See the map

MESIA and Energyjobline to help you find the best opportunity

MESIA and Energyjobline entered in a partnership agreement to help the solar community fining the right job or the right candidate for a position. Energyjobline provides the latest energy jobs and offshore jobs. They are working with a range of energy and engineering employers offering exciting opportunities to all energy industry professionals. Each month MESIA will advertise the most exciting one in the solar energy sector in the MENA region. Stay tune and check http://www.mesia.com/job-search

Solar, Water & Power Buyers' Guide

MESIA and CPI join hands to present you the “Solar, Water & Power Buyers' Guide”. If you are a service provider, a manufacturer or a supplier of solar-, water- or power-related technological solutions, here’s your chance of positioning yourself and your services and products on a sophisticated marketing platform. In order to successfully register your company in the upcoming directory, please follow the registration steps here.

Managing the challenge of Energy Storage

MESIA and DNVGL hold an interesting halfday event about « Managing the challenge of Energy Storage » on August 31st at Sheraton Grand, Dubai. Drawing on global experience and challenges, during this event we addressed the emerging and existing technologies, applications and the bankability of energy storage in MENA providing examples of potential business models and revenue streams

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IntersolarME to inspire new solar energy leaders

9 August
Inspiring a new generation of leaders and leveraging the enormous opportunity for job creation within the solar industry will be a major part of the Dubai leg of the Intersolar World Series, when the event makes its debut in the region later this year.

Held under the patronage of His Excellency, Suhail Al Mazrouie, UAE Minster of Energy, Intersolar Middle East will include a range of education workshops and features aimed at providing key insights into global best practices among current and future sector leaders..

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FRV secures $39.2mn for 50MW solar plant in Jordan

3 August
The European Bank has approved a $39.2mn loan to solar energy developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) to construct a 50MW solar photovoltaic plant in Jordan.

The new FRV plant, one of four to win Round 2 of Jordan’s recent PPA tender, will be located within the King Hussein Bin Talal Development Area (KHBTDA) near the city of Al Mafraq, 80 kilometres north of Amman.

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Omani startup plans solar panel production facility

20 August
Omani startup Nafath Renewable Energy has told the Muscat Daily that it is planning to start the first solar panel production facility in the country. The company’s CEO Abdullah al Saidi said: “The project is currently in the design stage and the construction of the plant is expected to start as soon as official approvals are granted. “Nafath has a lot of projects for installation of solar systems. And with authorities recently backing the rooftop solar systems development in Oman, the scope for producing the solar panels is great.” http://meconstructionnews.com/16488/omani-startup-plans-solar-panel-production-facility.

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Pakistan regulator receives application for 20MW solar project in Sindh

18 August
Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has received an application for a 20MW solar PV plant at the Shaheed Benazirabad District in the Southeast province of Sindh from Benazirabad Solar Power (BSPSPL). The project will involve 78,431 solar panels of 255Wp capacity and cost US$27 million, provided by 75% debt and 25% equity. http://www.pv-tech.org/news/pakistan-regulator-receives-application-for-20mw-solar-project-in-sindh.

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MBR Solar Park Phase II to be operational by April

17 August
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dewa, recently visited the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal to follow up with the project implementation. The park’s ongoing projects support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide 7 per cent of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2050.

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Masdar passes 50% mark in Mauritania plant

17 August
Masdar recently announced that it had passed the halfway mark in its project to construct a 16.6MW solar power plant network in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Masdar broke ground on the project in December last year. When complete, the network of eight solar power plants will almost double the UAE's contribution to Mauritania's renewable energy capacity to a total of 31.6MW. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/masdar-passes-50-mark-in-mauritania-plant.

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Saudi renewable energy plan: Lessons from South Africa

16 August
As widely reported, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently issued its Vision 2030 plan, along with the supplementing National Transformation Program 2020. Together these plans set far-reaching goals to transform the Kingdom’s oil-dependent economy to one which is diverse, sustainable and at the crossroads of international trade. A significant target under Vision 2030 is the addition of 9.5 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, including 3,450MW by 2020.

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Made in UAE' solar car races to fame

11 August
Shihab Mohammed bin Solaiman is all ready to conquer the world of academia with a solar car. The 23-year-old Bangladeshi engineering student at Petroleum Institute (PI) in Abu Dhabi recently won - beating out hundreds of worldwide competitors in the bargain - the Total Campus Challenge 'Make Things Better'.

At the competition - run by the French oil company Total - he presented two special car designs, a solar and a hybrid one. This is not the first time these eco-friendly, sustainable car models are in the limelight. Shihab spoke to Khaleej Times about his passion - building cars - particularly the two he has devoted most of his time to.

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24M’s battery breakthrough could put a dent in renewable energy’s biggest challenge

8 August
The world of battery techn­ology is one that few but hardcore physics nerds venture into with any enthusiasm, yet it could be the place where the next big energy revolution is catalysed.

As Scott Nyquist, a leading energy expert at consultancy McKin­sey & Partners puts it: "Reliable and efficient storage is the missing link for renew­ables."

Being able to efficiently and economically store the energy generated by solar, wind, wave and other intermittent sources has long been recognised as the main obstacle to the takeover of the energy world by clean and renewable providers.

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Italian Embassy becomes first to be powered by sun

1st August
The Italian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is the first diplomatic mission here to use solar power for some of its electricity needs. Last week, the embassy completed the installation of photovoltaic (PV) system on its building's roof and on its car park shades, and also received the licence from the Regulation and Supervision Bureau (RSB).

According to the embassy's representatives, the solar installations will not be enough to cover the entire electricity needs of the embassy, particularly during the summer, when more air-conditioning is required. The building will partially run on clean power.

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CSP developers seek cost savings to protect overnight storage advantage

27 July
In high solar irradiation regions, PV with batteries are seen as the most economic solar solution for storage durations of a few hours, but CSP plants offer lower generation costs across longer storage periods and this has been a key selling point for new CSP plants. PV with four hours’ lithium-ion storage is currently available at a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of $10 cents/kWh, while the LCOE of CSP with storage is around $14 cents/kWh, Andrea Lovato, executive director of business development at ACWA Power, told CSP Today.

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MESIA at Intersolar Middle East

• Date: 19-21 September 2016
• Location: World Trade Center - Dubai

In 2016 Intersolar is teaming up with dmg Events to organize the key event in the Middle East taking place in Dubai dedicated to the solar industry: Intersolar Middle East. The event’s exhibition and conference both focus on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage and solar thermal technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners of the global solar industry.

MESIA offers its members very special discounted rate

SolarWorld and MESIA cocktail Reception

• Event Type: Invitation Only
• Date: 20 September 2016
• Location: Novotel Hotel, WTC, Dubai

MESIA members and SolarWorld clients will receive a personal invitation to attend a cocktail reception on the second day of Intersolar Middle East. This will be the perfect occasion to share business insights and listen to the last development in the industry.

Jordan – Palestine, Solar Trade Mission

• Date: 1-2 November (TBC)
• Location: Intercontinental, Amman

In Jordan, the national renewable energy strategy, has been set and will target 1,800 MW, or 10 per cent of the country’s energy supply, to come from renewable sources by 2020. The government's plan will call for 600 MW of this new capacity to be provided by solar power. The Renewable Energy Trade Mission in Jordan organized by MESIA will present a comprehensive outlook on developments in the Jordanian solar market  and the regulatory framework for developing solar projects in the country.  Officials and very senior representatives from the government will give you an overview of the key growth sectors for solar in Jordan; Commercial roof top sector, utility scale power plants, captive power projects (hotels, large consumers), to name a few. The aim of this Trade Mission is to connect international solar companies, manufacturers and investors with local Jordanian industry leaders. The target is to facilitate partnership discussions between MESIA members and local companies interested in expanding in the renewable energy sector in Jordan.

Sponsorship packages are available. Please contact [email protected]

2nd Annual Solar Projects Egypt

• Date: 06-07 September 2016
• Location: Cairo, Egypt

The 2nd Annual Solar Projects Egypt will bring the value chain to discuss updates from 2015, key issues in the lead-up to the financial close for the 2.3 GW solar Fit program including permits, logistics, grid connection, water and security needs, strategies to ensure the successful delivery of the program and insights on the second round of the Solar Fit program. Read more 

MENA Investment Exchange: Energy meeting

• Date: 29-30 September 2016
• Location: London

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the agenda for the MENA Investment Exchange: Energy meeting will focus on:

• Upturn in renewable energy development in the Middle East and North Africa.
• Changing patterns of gas supply for GTP projects including domestic production outlook and gas/LNG imports.
• Innovative financial structures, commercial returns, entry and exit strategies.
• Where the region stands in the climate debate.
• Who to work with in the diverse MENA area.
• Key markets, including, Algeria, Dubai, Egypt, GCC, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia.
• The region’s political exposure in a time of stress

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Dubai Solar Show

• Date: 04-06 October 2016
• Location: Dubai World Trade Center

The ideal gateway of solar business is set to become the biggest solar exhibition in the region whill be launch on 4-6 October 2016 as part of WETEX Exhibition and in co-location with World Green Economy Summit at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centere, Dubai, UAE. DEWA is proud to bring you Dubai Solar Show, A dedicated platform showcasing latest solar innovations and the largest solar projects in region. Providing a unique platform in building partnerships with all government and private sectors in pursuing innovative solutions. Read more 

3rd Annual GCC Power and Water Forum

• Date: 20 October 2016
• Location: Park Hyatt, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Arriving a new Era of Divergence, braced and envisioned by one of the most devoted governments, the UAE has paved its way towards the most rapid urbanization program becoming a force to look towards for some of the best ground-breaking technologies being executed in the path of reliable development which in turn has attained the status as one of the world’s most flexible and attractive economies. Read more 

Powering Africa: Nigeria Investment Summit

• Date: 12-14 October 2016
• Location: Hilton Transcorp - Abuja, Nigeria

Leading development finance institutions and heads of Nigeria’s most accomplished energy companies will meet with national government at Energy Net’s Powering Africa: Nigeria Investment Summit, taking place in Abuja from 12-14 October 2016. Over 50 public and private sector decision makers will address 300 power developers and investorsto discuss the driving factors behind power development in Nigeria. The investment summit will underpin Nigeria as a hub for regional gas development as well as an important market for cleanand renewable energy.

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"What are you doing?"
I am the managing director of Fronius Middle East FZE, responsible for our divisions Solar Energy and Perfect Welding and dedicated teams within the region. I wake up every day with one thing on my mind: 24 hours of sun for the world. This is our vision and dream, this is what Fronius made possible and made us think daily about. We have around 4000 employees worldwide who always have this message on their mind, communicating it to our partners and clients and we are sure that we will achieve it one day, especially in cooperation with our service department which was been established now in the Middle East region to provide our clients and partners with full support.

"How did you start your journey in the solar industry?"
I have been working with Fronius for 7 years in Austria. When I started I was responsible for the welding division but solar energy always fascinated me. I took some solar and mindfulness courses which are being given to the Fronius employees and visited our R&D department where more than 400 employees focus daily on the 24 hours of sun message. I learned in Fronius school how to love and live with solar technology.

"What is your most memorable moment in solar?"
When Fronius announced that we will be producing solar batteries and we will continue efficiently with our vision and focus on the whole solution for 24 hours of sun. I just knew that we will give the world a great gift and I will be proud with my team and all Fronius employees of making this dream come true, especially here in the Middle East where we have enormous sun power which can enlighten the whole world. There are so many new products and patents in the pipeline which will support our vision, so wait for it ;)