Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) is trying to
set up a Centre of Excellence in Renewable Energy
Research in the Gulf region that could meet at
least 10 per cent of electricity demands from solar
and renewable energy mechanism by 2015-2020.
The centre will exchange all renewable energy
related research, mechanism and expertise among
the GCC countries targeting to achieve 7-10 per
cent energy requirements from renewable energy
system, announced Majid Al Mansouri, secretary
general of EAD.
Representatives from UNESCO, ISESCO and six Gulf
countries will meet on Friday to discuss the establishment
of this centre in one of the Gulf countries, Al
Mansouri said.
A five-day conference on renewable energy, titled
'Eleventh World Renewable Energy Congress and Exhibition
2010', will start from Sept. 26 at Armed Forces
Club in Abu Dhabi in which over 500 renewable energy
experts and researchers will take part.
The conference will aim to network among the GCC
countries and the world for green building and
renewable energy projects.
Professor Ali Al Sayigh, chairman of the World
Renewable Energy Congress and director-general
of World Renewable Energy Nations, said the congress
would discuss about biomass conversion technology,
fuel cell, hydrogen, intelligent energy systems,
geothermal applications, low energy architecture,
ocean energy, photovoltaic technology, radiation,
wind energy and solar materials.
"Our aim is to set up one centre in each
GCC country for better coordination. We need to
activate them to generate renewable energy. This
is one of the recommendations we are going to put
in the conference", Al Sayigh said.
Al Sayigh said the UAE and other GCC countries
have plenty of sun than Europe and it's far valuable
source of energy than oil as oil has to finish
at some extent of time.
"It you are going to put up solar system
for energy production in 200X200 kilometres, it
would be sufficient to produce electricity for
entire Europe. So, think, how much desert is available
with GCC countries and we don't use it," Al
Sayigh said.
"We will be communicating among ourselves
where to establish its headquarter later on. All
these centres are to be set up under auspices of
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO) and Islamic Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO).
"Germany aims by 2020 to obtain 30 per cent
of electricity requirements from renewable energy
mechanism. Germany does not have much sun as the
UAE, Saudi Arabia or other GCC countries. So why
not us," Al Sayigh said.
On September 25, there will be a workshop on energy
agenda and poverty reduction in which women can
learn about energy saving and poverty reducing
methodologies. Women from 18 countries will participate
in it, Al Sayigh said.
anwar@khaleejtimes.com