The UAE alone is expected to require new investments of $164 billion in clean and renewable energy sources to achieve its carbon-neutral 2050 pledge, a conference at Middle East Energy in Dubai heard.
Energy experts expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia will meet its net-zero carbon emission by 2060, if not before at the Global Energy and Utilities Conference, which was held last month.
The day three opening session Decarbonising industries addressed the critical need for decarbonising energy-intensive industries to successfully meet carbon reduction programmes and net-zero targets.
Discussing Saudi Arabia’s net-zero target announced in October last year when the country committed to cutting carbon emissions to zero by 2060, Turki Al Shehri, Chief Executive Officer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Engie, reiterated his confidence in achieving these goals, he said: “I’m optimistic because if you look at the entire value in terms of public and private companies and regulations, they are all aligned towards the net-zero objective. I believe the objective is very achievable and could be achieved in advance with the way things are moving forward.”
Discussing the use of technology in the here and now and the opportunities to decarbonise already available to many, Salim Mousallam, Executive Director, Decarbonisation Strategy & Partnerships, GE Gas Power EMEA, said: “Today, 40 per cent of CO2 emissions from around the world come from power generation so we cannot ignore that we have to do something. For power plants, there are multiple solutions to decarbonise and achieve net-zero.
“At GE, we’ve been burning hydrogen for about 30 years, so the technology is there; however, the only issue is when you look at the energy trilemma, you need sustainability, reliability and affordability, so until you have the right economy and the infrastructure to support hydrogen, which can take years, we have to look at both pre and post-combustion. Carbon capture is critical as it is something we can do today.
“I think if you look at the overall picture if we have the right policies and incentives, we already have the solutions so we can start decarbonising today rather than waiting for the perfect solution in 10-15 years.”
Other speakers on the panel included Alexandre Eykerman, Managing Director and Energy Business Director, Wartsila; Dr Chet Biliyok, Technical Director – New Energy Services, Petrofac; Ali Zerouali, Head of Cooperation & International Development, Masen; and Sergio Lopez Perez, International Relations Senior Specialist, Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi.
Concluding the Intersolar Conference, energy storage and the rapid evolvement of technology took centre stage during the opening session. The discussion centred on how the market is shifting and adapting as power generation, distribution, and storage technologies open new possibilities.
