Abstract
The member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are reliant on fossil fuels to generate electricity. Fossil fuels also represent the main source of economic income in the region. Climate change is closely associated with the use of fossil fuels, and it has become the main motivation driving the GCC countries to search for alternative solutions, such as renewable energy technologies, to eliminate their reliance on fossil fuels and the climate burden attached. The GCC countries have all adopted plans for economic development and diversification to be implemented over two decades. Such plans are strengthened by a framework for long-term planning, which includes a strategic commitment to pursue the development process in a sustainable manner. This research provides a comprehensive review and strict follow-up to shed light on the renewable energy projects implemented in the GCC region and critically discusses future prospects. The projects foreshadow the GCC countries’ ability to comply with the future requirements and to spearhead the renewable energy transition towards a more sustainable and equitable future. The main findings of this research reveal that the GCC countries have achieved significant progress in the field of renewable energy deployment. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are at the top of the list for global renewable energy projects, while Kuwait and Oman have also announced the progress of their projects and have honored their pledges. We find that Bahrain and Qatar need to exercise more transparency in regard to disclosing information about the developments of their renewable energy projects. Finally, although several promising renewable energy projects are underway or have been announced in the region, their completion should be accelerated, and more projects must be implemented to fully meet the decarbonization targets and climate constraints.
Highlights
As clean energy sources, renewable energy technologies have grown considerably due to climate change, global warming, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
Based on our analysis of the recent evolutions in energy generation and consumption patterns, the announced and commenced energy-related investments, and several efficiency and trade-oriented energy policies, it is apparent that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have realized the importance of renewable energy and the urgent need to diversify their energy sources
Such diversification can increase the sources of their economic income, which has traditionally depended on oil and natural gas production and export
Summary
Renewable energy technologies (solar and wind) have grown considerably due to climate change, global warming, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to the CCC, the considerable drop in the cost of renewable energy promoted by government policies to nurture wind and solar power will be the main solution for addressing climate change and global warming issues [13]. The GCC countries are concerned with the consumption of a large amount of per capita energy [17], water, and other fossil-fuel resources in the region, generating waste, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions well above the global average levels. The CO2 emissions of the GCC countries correspond to the burning of a considerable amount of fossil fuels for energy generation and the emissions resulting from oil and natural gas exploration activities. On the other hand, limited studies have discussed climate change and global warming in the GCC region, and those that have typically ignore the crucial stages of the observed phenomena that require long-term effective solutions. Climate studies have revealed a strong correlation between the temperature increase and the energy consumption in the region
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