‘Qatar in forefront of renewable energy usage’

Qatar is seeing significant developments in utilising renewable energy, said Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Seetharaman. Qatar, the host nation for FIFA 2022, has proposed to develop and implement artificial cloud technology as a way of cooling off stadiums from the desert country’s scorching summer, he said at the recent World Energy Forum in Dubai. This project is being supported by a collaboration between Qatar University and Qatar’s Science and Technology Park (QSTP). It is expected that by 2017, the revamped Khalifa Stadium will be carbon-neutral, powered and climate controlled entirely by solar energy, serving as a precedent for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup event infrastructure. Qatar-based Green Gulf is also working on installing solar panels in at least four schools in the country in an initiative labelled as ‘Solar Schools’. Chevron has launched the Centre for Sustainable Energy Efficiency (CSEE) at Qatar Science & Technology Park as well, as a part of research on latest energy efficiency and solar technologies. In April 2011, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) signed an MoU on clean energy technologies. A solar parking project will be established at the upcoming Solar Test Facility, a Chevron Qatar - Green Gulf initiative at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Solar parking is a simple and cost-effective way of utilising solar energy. In May 2012, Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has signed an agreement with the Qatar Electricity & Water Company to explore possibilities of developing power generation using solar energy in Qatar.” Global warming and the expected depletion of conventional energy sources such as oil and gas are pushing GCC countries to pursue alternate energy sources, Dr Seetharaman said. Emphasising on the possibilities of solar and wind energy as potential sources of renewable energy in the GCC, he said: “GCC countries have enough solar and wind potential to generate electricity that could meet all their needs without using the oil and gas wealth. “If the GCC countries allocate 0.5 % of their 2.5mn sq km area for generation of electricity from solar energy, and assuming their equipment have a conversion rate of 20%, they can generate enough energy for one year. Further, as for wind energy, the average wind velocity in the Gulf is around seven meters per second at 80 meters high. “This speed is very suitable to operate windmills economically. As a result, a windmill with a 10-metre diameter and 35% efficiency rate can produce around 24kw of electricity in the region.” On the impact of climate change in the GCC, Dr Seetharaman said: “The rising sea levels will affect coastlines and marine life severely and could impact the efficiency of desalination plants that are the only source of water in the region. Secondly, rising temperatures translates into increasing water demand and, with falling freshwater levels and increasing salinity in sea water, water scarcity may be felt.” On the significant developments in GCC’s hydro power sector, he said: “GCC states would invest close to $100bn for infrastructure development and explore new ways to ensure uninterrupted supply of drinking water to its residents in the next five years. Considering the region does not have natural sources of fresh water supply, the member states have to bear huge costs in the desalination of water. Also, electricity consumption has doubled globally since 1980 and at the prevailing rate, there is every reason to believe that the consumption would double from the present levels by 2030.”