Concentrated Solar Power Gaining Ground in the Middle East
I check out several sources for the global energy news every morning, including one, aptly titled, The Global Energy Report, and I’m always gratified to see concentrated solar power (CSP) making its way to the front of the conversation. This is happening, by the way, far faster and more often than Americans may realize, as the sun-drenched regions of Southern Europe, as well as Northern Africa and the Middle East, are running hard in this direction.
I’m particularly impressed with the progress that oil-rich nations like the United Arab Emirates are making. It’s impressive – and telling — that countries that could have been wringing money out of their crude reserves are the most progressive in terms of renewable energy. When you think about it, this shows a deep-seated understanding of a core fact of 21st Century life on Earth: our dependence on fossil fuels is foolish, supremely irresponsible, and outrageously expensive in every conceivable sense of the word.
Writing on the “Shams 1” project, the UAE’s latest development in CSP, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the lead developer “Masdar” notes:
The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major breakthrough for renewable energy in the Middle East. Just like the rest of the world, the region is faced with meeting its rising demand for energy, while also working to reduce its carbon footprint. Shams 1 is a significant milestone, as large-scale renewable energy is proving it can deliver electricity that is sustainable, affordable and secure.
I often wonder, after all my work in this field, why I don’t have the same level of clout in terms of getting things done. Well, the guy is a sultan; that probably doesn’t hurt. All kidding aside, anyone using his influence for the clean energy cause is all right with me.
Concentrated solar power, whether PV or a type that heats a fluid, can work well in climates where it is rarely cloudy. Unfortunately, unlike non-concentrated solar power, it will not provide significant power except in clear weather.
Of course, like all forms of solar power, CSP has the problem of not being able to receive solar power when the sun is not shining.
I think the most exciting use of CSP over in the Middle East is what Chevron and Shell are doing over at the Wafra oil field where they are using solar in lieu of more expensive natural gas (at least in that region of the world) for steamflooding/EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) purposes.