Is large-scale energy storage a viable option in the Middle East?

Until recently, large-scale energy storage was barely a consideration in the Middle East, where fossil fuels have long dominated power generation. With renewable energy projects expanding across the region, energy storage has started gaining traction.

Is energy storage gaining traction in the Middle East?

With renewable energy projects expanding across the region, energy storage has started gaining traction. Unlike Europe, North America, and Asia, where renewable energy and storage technologies are well-established, the Middle East remains in the early stages of development.

How many new power plants will the Middle East need?

The Middle East will need to construct 277 GW of new power plants in this time frame, while also considering a replacement for ageing infrastructure. In addition to new-build plants, there is a great deal of potential for brownfield plants.

Will solar power power the Middle East?

The Middle East is a growing region for power generation and will require additional capacity to meet its economic ambitions and the needs of its people. There is no doubt that renewable sources of energy, especially solar, will play a major part in its future power mix.

Does the Middle East have a power supply?

Yet as the Middle East is flush with cheap natural resources, the region’s power makeup is still almost exclusively dominated by oil and gas.4 The region currently uses oil and natural gas to meet 97 percent of its electricity needs. Economic growth hinges upon connectivity and power generation.

How much energy does the Middle East need?

With this growing demand, IHS expects that the Middle East will need 277 gigawatts (GW) of additional capacity to boost installed capacity to 483 GW by 2035. There are new plans to diversify the energy mix on the horizon, reforms taking place and innovative technologies hurdling into the sector.