• Renewable energies create new jobs and enhance human health and welfare
• Civil Twin Renewable Middle East, based at SRTI Park, is working on new solutions and ideas related to renewable solar energy.

Sharjah, UAE (10 November 2020) – Energy remains one of the main forces that power countries’ economy and boost progress.  Even the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has highlighted the key importance of energy to power medical facilities and ensure the continued supply of basic needs, including food and water.

There is, however, an urgent need to cut carbon emissions and this leads to renewable energy playing a major part to play in the transition to the low carbon and more sustainable economy. 

Currently, renewables – solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, tidal, geothermal and biomass – make up only about 13 per cent of the world’s primary energy supply. The world’s reliance on traditional energy, including fossil fuels, meanwhile account for about 26 per cent of overall carbon emissions across the globe. 

Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park), the UAE’s premier research and innovation hub, supports the urgent need to cut carbon emissions and make the development of renewable energy technology essential. 

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park, said: “At SRTI Park, we support companies and inspire the world for energy transformation. With the help of multilateral cooperation and institutions, we can make further accelerated growth in renewable energy by working collectively towards renewable energy transition.”

Al Mahmoudi noted Civil Twin Renewable Middle East, a consultancy company working in the renewable energy, is working on improving the photovoltaic industry with creation, testing and installation of new solutions and ideas related to renewable solar energy.

“In addition, Civil Twin is also identifying opportunities and expanding its each in the region. Civil Twin was established with the purpose of spreading the sustainable peace all over the world and empowering the future with the Earth friendly energy,” he added.

Economic opportunities

According to industry experts, several renewable energy technologies are already competitive at market prices. There is a huge employment potential associated with project development, construction and installation for renewable energies.

Al Mahmoudi noted in Sharjah, one remarkable project is diverting municipal solid waste to generate electric power.  The waste-to-energy process converts the waste into produced heat which is then used to drive an electrical turbine. The net electrical power produced will be up to 30 MW which will be supplied directly to the Sharjah electricity grid.

Solar power roadmap

Al Mahmoudi also believes the entry of Civil Twin Renewable Middle East in the region would boost the industry as the future of solar photovoltaic (PV) could cover a quarter of global electricity needs by 2050, thus becoming the second largest renewable energy source after wind.

Industry leaders also say solar PV is a fast-evolving industry, with innovations along the entire value chain driving further, rapid cost reductions. Solar pV project costs are already below marginal fossil-fuel costs in global terms and are set to decline further in the years to come. Moreover, energy transformation brings socio-economic benefits. The global solar industry could employ over 18 million people by 2050.

The UAE, for its part, is on track with its ‘Energy Strategy 2050’, which is considered the first unified energy strategy in the country that is based on supply and demand. The strategy aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050 and reduce carbon footprint of power generation by 70 percent, thus saving Dh700 billion by 2050. It also seeks to increase consumption efficiency of individuals and corporates by 40 per cent.