Gas turbine technology 'best for GCC states'

Dubai: Gas turbine technology is the most appropriate fossil fuel-based technology available for power generation in the GCC countries, and serious steps have been taken to adopt this efficient method.

Other alternative energy sources like wind is not viable in the UAE according to a study carried out in Fujairah which showed the available wind speed level is only 25 per cent of the required speed to enable the windmill to start generating electricity.

Dr Abdullah Al Amiri, Chairman of the Emirates Energy Award, believes gas turbine technologies are the cleanest techniques within systems that use fossil fuels and are favoured in GCC countries due to the low cost of available natural gas.

Speaking on the other alternative energy sources, Dr Al Amiri said: "There is the Coal-Fired Power Plant, which is burned by coal gasification, a very efficient method for extracting energy from coal, and the best solution to help reduce emission and pollution. The GCC countries are continuously confronted with the issue of depletion of natural gas resources in the region."

Solar techniques are still relatively more expensive.

Using nuclear technology to generate power has a low cost estimated at 0.08 to 12 fils per kilowatt hour, against 14 to 22 fils for gas turbine technologies and 9 to 18 fils for coal fired technologies.