Solar Powers Middle East electricity show

Hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, Middle East Electricity (MEE) is the region’s leading international trade event for the power sector and will serve as a platform for product showcases, business networking, policymaking and idea sharing.

This year's edition, which takes place next week, will also discuss and debate the many issues, challenges and opportunities in the sector, against a backdrop of burgeoning energy demand across the region.

MEE has been energising the industry for the past four decades, and this year is no exception, with a three-day agenda featuring conferences and workshops that bring together government authorities, industry experts and thought leaders with manufacturers and solution providers.

Absolute number power

For 43 years, MEE has been indisputably in the vanguard of regional development, serving as illuminator, bellwether and pacesetter in equal measure.

Running from March 6 to 8, this year’s edition will host more than 1,500 exhibitors from 66 countries and house 24 country pavilions, each demonstrating systems, processes and technologies aimed at making the sector more productive, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable.

More than 25,000 senior-level industry decision makers are expected to attend the event.

New sector, strong quartet

The expansion of this annual event will see the inclusion of a new sector this year: energy storage and management solutions. International energy storage and management providers convening alongside manufacturers will provide experiences of the latest technologies that are transforming the industry.

In another first, the solar sector will be housed under MEE this year, after its six-year run as a co-located event. Anita Mathews, Group Director Industrial Portfolio at Informa Exhibitions, says it will make a regional impact.

“This new dedicated product sector will launch as the Middle East and Africa’s most comprehensive coming together of local, regional and international energy storage and management providers,” she adds.

The three other sectors are transmission and distribution, power generation and lighting.

With five sectors under one roof, the knowledge takeaways are staggering and will assist in aligning strategies and processes to international innovations, standards and best practices.

Everything under the sun

Although the solar sector is only marking its sectional debut this year, growing interest and voracious appetite for contemporary technologies, solutions, products and projects are expected to see high levels of participation.

“Solar is now undoubtedly one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region, with the Middle East Solar Industry Association putting the number of solar projects under execution throughout Mena at 3,610 with another 1,300 projects under tender,” says Mathews.

“Mega projects are being jump-started across both North Africa and the GCC, while there is increasing acceptance and uptake of rooftop solutions, which have witnessed a ten-fold demand surge in the UAE in the past 12 months alone,” she adds.

The solar sector, thereby, holds enormous opportunities for all stakeholders: small start-ups, large developers, financers, equipment suppliers, and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors.

Regional rankings

The world is keeping a sharp watch on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region as it expects a staggering $1.68-billion (Dh6.17 billion) worth of growth in smart grid markets in the next eight years.

The six GCC states will require a combined investment of about $131 billion in electricity generation, transmission and distribution over the next five years to cope with the increasing demand from growing populations, expanding economies and climatic changes.

With a current power-generating capacity of 157 Gigawatts (GW), which is a little less than half (43 per cent) of all capacity in the greater Middle East and North Africa, the GCC states will require $81 billion investment for 62GW of increased capacity, and approximately $50 billion for additional transmission and distribution.

According to the GCC Power Market report produced for MEE by Ventures Onsite, growth will come from increased deployment of smart grid infrastructure by GCC governments. Saudi Arabia leads investment in the power sector, with $36 billion required for power generation, and $23 billion in transmission and distribution. The UAE follows closely, with $22 billion needed for power generation, and $13 billion in transmission investment.

Promising PPP prospects

The report is certain that public-private partnerships (PPP) can lead regional investments in power, especially if they are egged on by regulatory frameworks. Already the most attractive financing mechanism for the GCC power market, the PPP model has been helping ease the strain on government finances by delivering advanced technology and complex engineering solutions for the past two decades.

As lower oil prices and the growing need for public services make earlier state-led models less sustainable, PPPs and privatisation are becoming even more appealing.

By sharing risks and responsibilities, they allow governments to build or maintain projects on time and within budget and without having to bear full and upfront construction costs. Partnerships of this kind can also bring greater levels of competition and efficiency to the sector.

The report also cites a certain amount of caution from industry experts. While there is great need for regulatory frameworks, it says, regional governments must ensure their longevity with larger roles that go beyond short-term solutions to rising demand.

Brilliant minds, bright future

The need – and the underlying demand – for change will see the launch of the Global Smart Energy Summit (GSES) alongside MEE 2018. Local and regional industry leaders will be able to meet and mingle with their international counterparts to look for financing and partnership solutions in reforms, policies and incentives.

“There will be keen debate on energy models needed to fuel economic growth, including policy reform required to accelerate the global transition to smart energy,” explains Ryan O’Donnell, Programme Director for GSES. “This includes a review of successful policy rethinks from around the world. It will be a track that could well set a course for the region’s power industry future.”

O’Donnell adds that with speakers scheduled to share insights into all sectors including the proliferation of solar, the thought-provoking agenda will serve as a beacon for the industry, across all levels and geographies.

Thinking and transformation

The three-day GSES will serve as a thought leadership summit that aims to transform the way we live and work.

With 140 speakers from 28 countries delivering more than 100 content sessions across nine themed tracks, the event will serve as nothing short of a global think tank in this era of power for everything, everyone, everywhere. The summit is expected to attract more than 700 attendees.

Another aspect of note is the learnings gleaned from evolutionary projects being implemented across the world – from microgrids that are designed to power Africa to the smart building technologies that Denmark deploys.

Dialogue and discourse

There is avid global interest in exploring and embracing technologies and renewables that can combat climate change, deliver smart cities and make local ecosystems more resilient.

Featuring some of the biggest corporate champions in transformation – Nasa, Tesla, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory and US Department of Energy – GSES will explore reform patterns across the entire power spectrum and spell out the most successful and sustainable aspects of the future.

“The summit will unite the region’s governmental energy leaders, regulators, utility companies, contractors, consultants and energy end users for three days of dialogue, thought leadership and networking with smart energy pioneers from around the world,” explains O’Donnell.

“It will be essential for everyone looking to play a role in an industry that is destined to change and effect change in the very near future,” he adds.

Local leadership

The UAE’s vision to deploy smart grid and metre solutions will greatly increase its future contribution to renewables, in accordance with the UAE’s Energy Plan 2050. Meanwhile, it is already being hailed for progress and prowess.

“Dubai is already being held up as a smart grid pioneer, particularly since its investment in Shams Dubai, the emirate’s first smart initiative to connect solar energy to buildings as part of its Distributed Renewable Resources Generation programme,” explains Anita Mathews.

Concurrently, neighbour Saudi Arabia’s plans for Neom megacity is seen as a test case for a zero-energy megacity, when the first phase will be completed in 2025.

MEE is held under the patronage of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and hosted by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry.

Middle East Electricity will run at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10am to 6pm on March 6, 7 and 8. Visitor registration can be completed online at Middleeastelectricity.com