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- The use of solar energy in the country is increasing with solar energy now powering parking meters, offshore buoys and water heating in hotels.
- Solar energy has been used for the first time in the Middle East to cool a 100-flat apartment complex in Dubai, which has cut utility bills by a third.
- Solar energy has also been used to power the hot water system for a hotel in Dubai which more than meets their daily requirement. The hotel now saves nearly 100% on their energy costs. The first solar-cell production line has recently been opened in the Fujairah Free Zone, UAE.
- According to industry experts, the UAE has the capacity to produce an estimated 1,000 megawatts of electricity every year using wind energy if utilised properly.
- The UAE has recently set up a wind power plant on Sir Baniyas Island, which is the first ever wind power project in the entire Arabian Peninsula. The wind power plant is the first in the world designed to sustain the most severe climatic conditions including extremely high temperatures and humidity rates.
- Fujairah is planning to build several wind parks. In May 2002, seven solar-powered wind measurement towers were installed in various parts of the emirate to measure the amount, duration and strength of wind.
- Each wind park is supposed to generate between 150 to 200 megawatts a year. Adfec is also planning to launch several projects in the near future and develop a new economic sector dedicated to alternative and sustainable energy for Abu Dhabi and the UAE. While the UAE has now launched launched the $250 million Masdar company to develop a new economic sector dedicated to sustainable and renewable energy as part of its efforts at conserving the environment
- The government of Abu Dhabi will build a $350m solar power plant, The 500 megawatt plant, expected to begin operations in 2009, is part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to cut dependence on hydrocarbon power generation
- Saudi Arabia is currently considering alternative energy sources for the Kingdom with the focus on solar, wind and water energies
- Solar energy has been used for oilfield lighting systems, protection for pipelines, advertising signage and traffic signalling.
- Solar energy is being used for lighting public parks and streets and also to power a water pump to provide water to a remote village.
- If the required funds from the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan are allocated, the first geothermal power plant capable of producing 20 megawatts of electrical and thermal energy produced from the solar energy would be constructed in Meshkinshahr.
- Following the preliminary studies aimed at generating electricity from wind energy, Iran's wind atlas will be produced within the next three years.
- Currently, two projects have been developed in the Manjil Tunnel and Binalud in Khorasan Province in which 120-megawatts electricity turbines are installed. The total energy generation capacity from wind in Iran has been estimated at 6,500 MW.
- Lebanon is currently proposing a project to the Energy and Water Ministry in which a desalination plant will be designed and powered by a solar pond along the seashore line close to the University of Balamand campus.
- Syria is planning to launch a wind energy project as a result of the need to look at alternative means of generating electricity
- According to industry sources, indications are that oil will only be available in Syria for the next 10 years, and renewable energies will achieve half of the energy required in Syria by 2050.
- Syria is planning to launch a wind energy project in the near future in an effort to reduce the dependency on oil. A feasibility study has been prepared to build a wind farm in Homs governorate. The ministry of electricity is arranging a draft law to build the national center for energy studies and research.
- A leading Bahraini scientist has suggested that Bahrain must start laying the groundwork and allocating budget for new solar technologies as a result of the enormous increase in energy demand expected over the next decade.
- Energy City Qatar is promoting ‘green building’ practices
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