SolarQuarter- Middle East Jan-Feb Issue 2022

Empowering, Insightful, Engaging

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‫ المشاركة‬، ‫ الثاقبة‬، ‫التمكين‬

Middle East

M A H E N G / 2 0 1 8 / 7 7 3 7 9

V O L U M E

IN CONVERSATION

and the impact on future of renewable energy installations in JORDAN

Energy transition into a green scenario to tackle climate change will be a predominant priority for the world leaders and the Industry in the Middle East will be a major contributor in the journey. ”

- FRANK GALLARDO Head of Renewables Segment, L&T

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J A N - F E B

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PUBLISHING

CONTENT

Firstview Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

EDITING Ashwini Chikkodi

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NEWS

MIDDLE EAST NEWS

Nikita Salkar editorial@firstviewgroup.com

CONTENT

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IN CONVERSATION

FRANK GALLARDO

Head of Segment,SirajPower L&T Head ofRenewables On-Grid Business,

Sadhana Raju Shenvekar Anand Kumar publishing@firstviewgroup.com

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IN CONVERSATION

FRANCOIS GANNEAU

DESIGNING Neha Barangali design@firstviewgroup.com

ADVERTISING Smriti Charan Andrew Ferreira advertise@firstviewgroup.com

CIRCULATION

Managing Director, Safeer

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OPINION

NEW ELECTRICAL TARIFF AND THE IMPACT ON FUTURE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS IN JORDAN

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OPINION

SOLARQUARTER HONORS THE CONSUMER’S FAVORITE SOLAR BRANDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Sadhana Raju Shenvekar

SUBCRIPTION subscribe@firstviewgroup.com

ADVERTISE WITH US Contact: Smriti Charan e: smriti@firstviewgroup.com

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PRODUCT FEATURE

LONGi

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Head of On-Grid Business, SirajPower

COMPANY FEATURE

LONGi

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MIDDLE EAST NEWS DETAIL >

BUZZ >

EDF TO DEVELOP RE PROJECTS OF AROUND 5 GWS IN UAE

ACWA POWER INAUGURATES IBRI 2 PV IPP IN OMAN U nder the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Hamoud bin

Faisal al Busaidi, Omani Minister of Interior, and in the presence of His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Investment, a consortium consisting of ACWA Power – a leading developer, investor, and operator of power generation, desalinated water, and green hydrogen plants – Gulf Investment Corporation (“GIC”), and Alternative Energy Projects Co. (“AEPC”), inaugurated Ibri 2, the first solar independent power project (IPP) to be launched under the country’s national renewable energy program and connected to the main national grid. The consortium will produce renewable energy over a 15-year period for the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP).

EDF is planning to grow its

renewable energy developments in UAE and Saudi Arabia by 5 GWs capacity. Olivier Bordes, EDF Renewables Middle East’s CEO, and Managing Director said, “The Middle East is a strategic area for EDF Renewables, and ultimately for EDF Group. We have currently secured 4 GW of projects in the Middle East and Africa, and the region has a pipeline of five additional GW to come.”

Currently, EDF has 14 GW of renewable energy (both wind and solar) worldwide and the Middle East is one of the largest contributors of the company. The company has some projects ongoing including the Dhafra PV2 solar plant in Abu Dhabi with a 2 GW power capacity which is the largest single-site PV project in the world and a 300 MW capacity PV plant in Jeddah.

LATEST>

MASDAR AND W SOLAR INVESTMENT TO DEVELOP RE PROJECTS Masdar and W Solar Investment, a subsidiary of Alpha Dhabi

Holding, and a development and investment company in the solar energy industry, have formed a joint venture company (JVC) to develop clean energy projects in a range of geographies. The new company, MW Energy Limited, will act as a development platform, focusing initially on a pre-identified pipeline of projects, while also exploring new opportunities under the guidance of both owners.

Abu Dhabi-based Chimera Capital advised W Solar on the JVC.

INDUSTRY >

TOTALENERGIES JOINS MASDAR AND SIEMENS ENERGY FOR GREEN HYDROGEN M asdar announced that TotalEnergies is adding its expertise in the energy sector

to a Masdar-led initiative focused on green hydrogen to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Senior executives from Masdar, Siemens Energy, and TotalEnergies signed a collaboration agreement on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2022, to act as co-developers for a demonstrator plant project, which will be established at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s flagship sustainable urban development. By leveraging their respective areas of expertise across the energy spectrum, and their local and global market reach, the co-developers believe that the demonstrator project can pave the way to commercial production of SAF, helping to reduce production costs and making it commercially viable.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 04

INDUSTRY >

DETAIL >

ALDAR ENTERS AGREEMENT WITH EWEC TO ADOPT CLEAN ENERGY Aldar Properties (‘Aldar’) has entered

a clean energy agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing, and supply of water and electricity across the UAE. Through the agreement, 100 percent of Aldar’s owned and managed operating assets will be powered by EWEC’s clean energy sources for up to five years in a move that aims to promote the adoption of clean energy and support the expansion of decarbonization in the real estate sector.

INSIGHT >

BP AND OMAN PARTNERS FOR RE AND HYDROGEN DEVELOPMENT

TAQA & EWEC PRICE FIRST GREEN BOND Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) – one of the largest listed

integrated utility companies in the EMEA region – along with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) – a leader in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing, and supply of water and electricity across the UAE – announced the successful pricing of green senior secured bonds for an aggregate principal amount of US$700.8 million (AED 2.6 billion) by Sweihan PV Power Company PJSC (SPPC). The bonds, one of TAQA’s first forays into green financing, will refinance existing debt facilities of SPPC, the project company incorporated to build, own and operate Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single-site solar project currently in operation.

BUZZ >

DEWA RAISES PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF A PROJECT TO 330MW HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of Dubai

Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced the production capacity of the first project of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has increased from 300 megawatts (MW) to 330MW. This results from using the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production. The 900MW fifth phase, with investments of AED 2.058 billion, is 60% complete with 4.225 million safe working hours without injuries. Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, said that work in the fifth phase of the Solar Park is going as per the targeted timeline. The second project is now 57% complete.

B p and the Ministry of Energy and

Minerals in Oman signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) and a Renewables Data Collection Agreement which will support the potential development of multiple gigawatts, world-class renewable energy, and green hydrogen development in Oman, by 2030. As part of the agreement, bp will capture and evaluate solar and wind data from 8,000km2 of land – an area more than five times the size of Greater London.

The evaluation will then support the Government of Oman in approving the future developments of renewable energy hubs at suitable locations within this area to take advantage of these resources.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 05

LATEST>

BUZZ>

CAFU, SIRAJPOWER, AND CREEK JOIN FORCES FOR CLEAN ENERGY

IRAN TO ADD RENEWABLE ENERGY OF 10 GW CAPACITY

A new era of on-demand clean energy is to launch

I ran is planning to add renewable energy

in the UAE, bringing renewable power to where it is needed through a new joint venture, HYPR. The new venture is formed by the leading on-demand refueling and vehicle services company, CAFU, the largest regional distributed solar energy company, SirajPower, and climate impact investor, Creek.

CAFU is one of the world’s leading global fuel delivery and vehicle services platforms. Since its launch in Dubai in 2018, CAFU has continued to drive innovation, champion convenience, and give back to their customers the most precious commodity of all – time. The creek is a Dubai-based climate impact investor.

of 10 GW capacity in the coming 4 years as a part of its aim to deploy 30 GW from renewable sources. The Ministry and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA) signed an agreement to set up a 10 GW capacity of energy and will allocate nearly $71.4 million. More than 80 GW of projects have been submitted for review by private investors. Iran has 900 MW of installed renewable energy capacity and 414 MW of which is from solar energy. In the year 2020, the country installed 50 MW and in 2019, 90 MW of solar power capacity.

INDUSTRY >

SWEIHAN PV POWER TO RAISE $700 MILLION WITH GREEN BONDS A weihan PV Power Company through the sale of

amortizing green bonds to raise $700 million. TAQA has a 60% share in Sweihan PV Power Company indirectly, and Marubeni Corporation and JinkoSolar own 20% each. Marubeni Corporation, having 20% ownership in the Project, together with JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) commenced commercial operation of the 1,177MW solar power plant in April 2019 through the Sweihan PV Power Company. All power generated from the project is sold to the Emirates Water and Electricity Company under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

Middle East

INSIGHT >

KANOO INDUSTRIAL AND ENERGY PARTNERS WITH CLEANMAX TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE SOLAR SOLUTIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA K anoo Industrial and Energy has announced its partnership with

CleanMax, the leading renewable energy company in Asia, to provide sustainable solar solutions to customers within the Kingdom. These solutions aim to encourage commercial and industrial businesses to rely on clean energy sources, reducing carbon emissions and supporting environmental sustainability which aligns with national directives and global trends. The introduction of Kanoo-CleanMax solutions for sustainable energy is part of Kanoo Industrial and Energy’s efforts to encourage the adoption of solar energy throughout the Kingdom at affordable prices. These solutions have a product lifetime of 25 years and will help reduce electric bills, with costs of solar energy investment being gradually recovered over a period of four to six years.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 06

INDUSTRY >

PVH WITH L&T TO SUPPLY 387 MWP TO NOOR PV PROJECT PVH continues to add major projects to its already large track record. Following the agreement reached with the Indian multinational Larsen & Toubro, the manufacturer will supply 387 MWp of its Monoline 2V bifacial in the South Jeddah Noor PV project, located in the province of Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. PVH has now surpassed 3GW contracted in the country. This figure, supported by its local supply capacity from its own manufacturing center, has made the company a robust, agile, and profitable partner.

INSIGHT >

LATEST>

ECOPPIA CROSSES 3000 MW SOLAR PV PROJECTS PORTFOLIO E coppia announces yet another major achievement, presenting an unmatched project portfolio of 3000 MW, cleaning over 4.8 billion panels to date. This significant milestone aligns with Ecoppia’s global expansion activities into new geographies, answering the burning need for truly autonomous robotic solutions in dry regions. With tariffs constantly falling every year while solar sites’ capacity continues to increase Ecoppia’s portfolio of robotic solutions provides site owners an optimal way to drastically lower O&M expenses, while ensuring continuous peak production.

SUNGROW TO SUPPLY 430 MWH ENERGY STORAGE TO ENLIGHT Sungrow and Enlight Renewable Energy, an Israeli traded Developer and IPP with global operation across the US, Europe, and Israel, announced a joint agreement which in Sungrow will supply Enlight with 430 MWh of its flagship liquid-cooled energy storage system (ESS). The contract is the largest ESS agreement signed to date in Israel, bolstering the country’s energy transition and marking a massive scale-up in installations for the newly launched system.

Sungrow will supply 430 MWh of its latest 4-hour liquid-cooled ESS, a combination of a contracted 230 MWh for stage 1 and a locked 200 MWh battery for stage 2, which enables profitability, flexibility, and safety.

BUZZ>

SHANGHAI ELECTRIC PARTICIPATES IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOURTH PHASE OF MAKTOUM SOLAR PARK Shanghai Electric plays a key role in helping Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries

build low-carbon and clean energy infrastructure while implementing green construction practices in its efforts to protect local ecological systems and minimize the impact on animal habitats. Shanghai Electric’s continued commitment to environmental protection has seen the Company’s engineer teams working with ecologists to preserve local wildlife as it supports the United Arab Emirates to accelerate towards net-zero carbon targets by building the world’s largest solar thermal power project for local residents.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 07

BUZZ>

INSIGHT >

URC COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR PLANT AT ABDALI MALL

ISRAEL’S ECONERGY FORMS 2 JVS TO DEVELOP RE PROJECTS Econergy Renewable Energy has

U nited Real Estate Company K.S.C.P (URC), a

leading real estate developer and investor in Kuwait and the MENA region has completed the construction of a solar power plant in Abdali Mall with Alternative Energy Projects Company (AEPCo), a member of Kipco Group.

Immersed in the heart of Amman in spectacularly 227,000 square meters of modern and refined architectural space, Abdali Mall is the Kingdom’s upscale retail and entertainment hub and the first of its kind to utilize eco-friendly technologies, designed with open-air features, allowing for natural air-flow circulation and the warmth of sun rays.

LATEST>

AMARENCO GROUP ACQUIRES 74% STAKE IN SOLARIZEGYPT Amarenco Group acquires a 74% stake in

SolarizEgypt. Both the companies together will develop a 300 MW capacity of assets with 4 billion EGP in 4 years duration. The joint venture is entitled “SolarizEgypt | Amarenco & Co.” Amarenco Group is a leading solar IPP active in Europe, the Middle East, and AsiaPacific. The company design, develop, finance, acquire, build and operate medium to large scale solar photovoltaic infrastructures and have completed more than 2,000 projects to date. Amarenco Group is also implementing the largest storage project in Europe and bringing energy production and consumption closer through the digital development of short supply circuits.

Middle East

formed two joint ventures to develop renewable energy projects in Romania and Poland. Econergy currently has 6 GW of ongoing projects in Europe. Econergy is an international IPP (independent power producer) of utility-scale renewable energy projects. The company formed joint ventures with Phoenix Insurance of Israel and RGreen Invest of French with an investment of 200 million euros ($227 million).

Phoenix Insurance will invest 150 million euros in Econergy to support the company’s renewable projects in Poland and Romania construction of which will start this year.

INDUSTRY

MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM SOLAR PARK GETS 30% BOOST IN PRODUCTION CAPACITY M ohammed

bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park of Dubai gets the latest solar tracking technology which will boost the capacity of production by 30%.

The technology is TrueCapture which uses advanced sensors and machine learning to get maximum results. The fifth phase of Dubai’s solar park with 900 MW capacity uses photovoltaic bifacial technology.

This technology helps solar radiation reach both at front and back of the solar panels and hence collects sunlight from both ends.

The new solar tracking technology includes integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence that enables solar panels to get more energy.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 08

INSIGHT >

LATEST>

OMAN RANKS 3RD IN ENERGY TRANSITION IN MENA REGION

SIEMENS AND DESERT TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCHES SOLAR AND SMART INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT PLATFORM, CAPTON ENERGY Siemens and Desert Technologies have launched a joint venture to develop and invest in solar and smart infrastructure in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as announced at Expo 2020 Dubai. The venture, Capton Energy – which aims to build up a portfolio of investments in projects with an aggregate capacity of more than 1 gigawatts (GW) – will support projects providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy in areas that need it most. Desert Technologies is a solar PV and smart infrastructure holding company focused on manufacturing and sustainable investments. Based in Jeddah, the company has completed more than 40 solar projects in 22 countries.

BUZZ>

According to the latest report, Oman was ranked 3rd in the renewable energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, 15th within emerging economies, and 38th in the world. The report gathered information on 136 global markets out of which 29 were developed countries and 107 were emerging markets. In MENA, UAE was 6th, Saudi Arabia was 16th, Qatar was 36th, and Kuwait was 47th.

Bahrain was not included. The top 5 nations were Namibia, Jordan, Nigeria, Oman, and South Africa.

Oman is working on adopting new strategies to use renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.

Oman launched its Oman Vision 2040 which aims to reach 39% of the total energy supply by 2040.

Middle East

ECOPPIA SIGNS A FIRST-EVER HYBRID PROJECT OF 400MW WITH MARKET LEADER AZURE POWER, FEATURING MULTIPLE ROBOTIC SOLUTIONS ON ONE SITE Ecoppia announced another significant

milestone with the first-ever hybrid project of 400MW with renowned energy player, Azure Power. This complex project, combined with two types of installations – fixed tilt and Single Axis Trackers (SAT), along with challenging terrains and varied structures, is another exemplification of Ecoppia’s wide capabilities to tailor a long-term and cost-effective solution for leading energy players. The robotics’ deployment, expected to commence in the first half of 2022, will feature Ecoppia’s full product suit – the E4, the T4 as well as Ecoppia’s latest addition – the Ecoppia H4-powered by the patented Helix Technology.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 09

INSIGHT >

INDUSTRY

KARMSOLAR LAUNCHES THE MARSA ALAM SOLAR GRID In 2022, KarmSolar became the first private company to receive a permit to distribute electricity in Marsa Alam by the Egyptian Electricity Regulatory Agency.

Accordingly, KarmSolar launched the Marsa Alam Solar Grid, a first-of-its-kind regional energy solution that aims to power resorts across Marsa Alam with a connection to the national grid and solar energy.

KarmSolar will distribute 10 MW to 8 resorts with grid connections and dedicated PV stations.

KarmSolar’s first project in Marsa Alam was back in July 2015. Marsa Shagra Resort (Red Sea Diving Safari) signed a PV/Diesel Hybrid Solar PPA, contributing renewable energy to the resort’s consumption and significantly lowering their energy bills.

GTL BECOMES UAE’S FIRST LAB TO RUN ON 100% SOLAR POWER WITH SUPPORT OF SHARAF DG ENERGY Geoscience Testing Laboratory (GTL), a subsidiary of Dubai-

based Prime Group and the largest laboratory in the Gulf Cooperation Council for the construction industry, has reached a pioneering milestone in the realm of the clean energy mix by becoming the first analytical laboratory to run on 100 percent solar power. Facilitated by Sharaf DG Energy, GTL is now equipped with 950 photovoltaic solar panels that can generate approximately 723,500 kilowatts of electricity annually. This shift to full energy independence will reduce the laboratory’s greenhouse gas emission by 510 metric tonnes every year, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 110 cars.

LATEST>

TGAC CELEBRATES THE COMMISSIONING OF TWO SOLAR PV PROJECTS Technical Glass & Aluminum Company L.L.C. (TGAC), a widely

recognized company in the Façade industry, celebrate the commissioning by TotalEnergies of two solar photovoltaic rooftops at its UAE facilities. TGAC is operating for more than 30 years and is recognized for providing high-quality products with outstanding customer service. In line with its sustainability strategy, TGAC chose TotalEnergies as its trusted partner to power its manufacturing operations with renewable electricity: In May 2021, TotalEnergies commissioned a 435 kilowatts-peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop for a TGAC’s façade manufacturing facility. The solar project is expected to produce over 700 megawatt-hours (MWh) in its first year of operation, powering 95% of the factory’s energy needs.

BUZZ>

TIMKEN WINS CONTRACT FOR WORLD’S LARGEST SOLAR PLANT T he Timken Company is providing high-precision drives for what

will be the world’s largest single-site solar power plant. Timken’s solar-tracking technology, developed by its Cone Drive subsidiary, will be used to precisely position solar panels in line with the sun for the Al Dhafra PV2 site in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Al Dhafra facility is expected to become fully operational in 2022.

When complete, its 4 million solar panels – controlled by 83,000 Cone Drive high-precision drives – are projected to power as many 160,000 homes across the UAE and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 2.4 million metric tons annually.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 10

INSIGHT >

LATEST>

SAN GROUP TO CONSTRUCT DUBAI UPDATE GREEN HYDROGEN UNIT IN UAE PLANS TO CUT EMISSIONS BY 2030

SAN Group has chosen Ras Al Khaimah Economic

Zone (RAKEZ) as the platform for its green hydrogen and farming subsidiary SAN Enertech. The company is constructing an integrated sustainable hydrogen production unit, plant, and fish farm on a land plot of 8,470 m2 in RAKEZ Al Hamra Industrial Zone with an investment of AED 12 million. SAN Group is building a fully integrated sustainable farming system on a land plot of 8,470 m2 at Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone.

BUZZ>

BELECTRIC BUILDS LARGE-SCALE FLOATING PV PLANT IN ISRAEL BELECTRIC is further increasing its footprint in the

H H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chaired the Council’s 68th meeting, which took place online. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed several topics including the successful launch of DEWA-SAT 1, part of DEWA’s Space-D program, that HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai launched in January 2021.

DEWA is the first utility in the world to use satellites in its operations.

Middle East

floating PV industry. The solar energy specialist is building a floating PV project with an installed capacity of 16,8 Megawatt Peak (MWp) for S’energy and the large-scale water utility “Carmel shore waters” in Israel. Together with S’energy, BELECTRIC’s Israeli subsidiary will carry out the engineering, construction, and commissioning work for the plant, which is located on a water reservoir near Kibbutz Ma’ayan Tzvi in the north of the country. Construction works are expected to start within the first quarter of 2022 with commissioning planned for the end of the year.

BELECTRIC will also take on operation and maintenance (O&M) for the floating solar project.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 11

INDUSTRY

LATEST>

HUNGARY TO INVEST €10 MILLION IN SOLAR PLANT IN OMAN

ACWA POWER SIGNS MOU WITH SAUDI EXIM ACWA Power, a leading developer, investor, and operator of power

Hungary to invest €10 million in a solar power plant in Oman in an effort to transition to renewable and clean energy sources. The agreement was signed by Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi in Muscat. MOL has had a big role in Oman to upgrade the traditional carbon-hydrogen industries and now we are ready that with the support of the Hungarian government, Hungarian companies will take part in building up the renewable energy sector of Oman.

generation, desalinated water, and green hydrogen plants, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM), in an extensive agreement that involves knowledge transfer in the realm of credit issuance, with the objective of facilitating and growing Saudi exports and overseas investments by Saudi institutions and organizations. The MoU will also bolster the growth of local content and Saudi exports in international projects and capital investments overseas, which will, in turn, create new jobs and foster economic growth within the Kingdom and beyond.

BUZZ>

APICORP AND ISDB TO BUILD $1 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING INITIATIVE The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), an energy-focused

multilateral development financial institution, and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have established the Infra Initiative, a US $1 billion private sector-focused infrastructure financing initiative. The Infra Initiative’s funds will be used to finance strategic utility projects that contribute to human and economic development in the two multilateral financial institutions’ member countries and their respective national development strategies. It is worth noting that APICORP’s 2021-2025 MENA Energy Investment Outlook projected the share of private investments in regional energy projects to reach 27% by 2025, a threefold increase from the 8.5% in 2020-2024 outlook.

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Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 13

IN CONVERSATION

FRANK GALLARDO

Head of Renewables Segment, L&T

Energy transition into a green scenario to tackle climate change will be a predominant priority for the world leaders and the Industry in the Middle East will be a major contributor in the journey. ” SolarQuarter Middle East magazine had an exclusive interview with Frank Gallardo, Head of Renewables Segment, L&T, and learned about the company’s contributions to the RE sector of the region. He also spoke about the smart technologies being adopted in the region, opportunities in the utility-scale market, and how the solar sector will progress over the next few years.

Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself.

Frank has been delivering dynamic and inspirational Management to medium and large international Power Generation companies over the past two decades. His passion for transforming organizational cultures and the people within those organizations have met with many successes in the Energy Generation sector. Having spent time in Europe, the Middle East and Central America give Francisco the advantage of being highly culturally aware. This awareness, combined with considerable empathy and a strong focus on outcomes and achievements, allows Francisco to empower people and teams to perform at a higher level, creating sustainable and high-performing cultures.

What are some smart technologies being adopted in the clean energy and energy efficiency space in the Middle East region?

Besides the adoption of new solar panel technologies including N-type and of ultra-high efficiency, we can highly the importance of robotic cleaning to reduce the soiling losses and the spread of string inverters in utility-scale projects to increase the availability. Recently some mockups are analyzing methods to increase the albedo radiation through reflectors or even adding a layer of reflective material on top of the soil. The remarkable contribution has been achieved with the introduction of agglutinant moisture of the top layer of the sand dunes which allows for reduction of sand migration and deposition within the projects.

A word about your recent successful contributions to this industry? What has been your biggest challenge so far?

The renewable energy sector has experienced a quantum leap over the past decade in multiple aspects. Technology improvement and cost reduction could potentially be the major milestones that have allowed us to achieve world record tariffs; at the end of the day as customers demand cheap electricity the renewable sector is in continuous competition with other sources of energy generation, the environmental benefits are a plus but ultimately what the market aims for is low cost. There have been many challenges along the way in particular for the multi-gigawatt scale projects but one of the main ones which is not always taken into account has been how to optimize the technology and the projects management in line with the Middle East particular terrain and weather conditions; our high temperatures in combination with sand migration in the atmosphere can sometimes drive us into very particular designs that differ largely on the approach taken in other parts of the world.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 14

Technology improvement and cost reduction could potentially be the major milestones that have allowed us to achieve world record tariffs; at the end of the day as customers demand cheap electricity the renewable sector is in continuous competition with other sources of energy generation, the environmental benefits are a plus but ultimately what the market aims for is low cost.

What are the current challenges and opportunities especially in the utility solar sector in the Middle East? How can the challenges be faced?

Some of the major challenges are the volatility of commodities prices from copper to aluminum and without forgetting the polysilicon materials; the world has been concentrating the production of those components in a limited number of players for two decades; such concentration allowed us to reduce cost but at the same time we have increased the dependency on certain countries and supply chain lines. The general sentiment now is that a wider diversification in the supply chain is required to secure the availability of components and that the Middle East has all the tools required to be a major contributor in this transitional period.

Middle East

How do you see your company contributing to the clean energy sector in the Middle East in the next couple of years?

L&T has a large track record in renewables and a tremendously big appetite for success; I forecast we will grow exponentially in the next few years becoming the biggest solar EPC contractor in the world by 2030.

How does the future look with respect to the solar industry in the region?

As the volatility in the commodities reduces and the central banks apply tightening policies, the components will enter a deflationary phase that will allow solar tariffs to go down further. There is no debate at this stage in terms of competitiveness but in the next phase of the cycle, solar technology will create a remarkable gap in cost versus conventional energy generation methods. The margin will certainly be used to introduce energy storage systems as standard in solar which will eliminate the concept of intermittency of supply. Energy transition into a green scenario to tackle climate change will be a predominant priority for the world leaders and the Industry in the Middle East will be a major contributor in the journey.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 15

IN CONVERSATION

FRANCOIS GANNEAU Managing Director, Safeer

The interest in solar PV from commercial & industrial users has been growing over the recent years in Saudi Arabia. Several projects have already been installed and are being operated.”

In an interesting conversation with SolarQuarter Middle East magazine, Francois Ganneau - Managing Director, Safeer spoke about his organization’s role and contribution to the RE sector. He also gave insights on market dynamics, growth potential and the company’s future contribution plans to the RE sector.

Could you please brief us about the organizations you are associated with and their role in the RE sector?

Safeer is a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Altaaqa Alternative Solutions, part of the Saudi-Arabian Zahid Group.

Both groups have been cooperating for over 15 years and created Safeer as a joint venture in 2021.

TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

As part of its ambition to get to net-zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a portfolio of activities in renewables and electricity. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW of gross production capacity from renewable sources and storage by 2025, and then 100 GW by 2030 with the objective of being among the world's top 5 producers of electricity from wind and solar energy.

As for Zahid Group, the company was founded in 1943 and today is a multi-national organization with over 5.000 employees, operating across twelve industry sectors. One of its main sectors is its Energy Division, which works closely with renowned global partners to promote and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions both on a national and international level.

Its numerous subsidiaries, partnerships, and joint ventures cover different segments of solar power generation as well as wind and green hydrogen.

Through its various activities, Zahid Group plays an active part in the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative and National Renewable Energy Program and is committed to supporting the development of reliable, sustainable energy solutions worldwide.

Middle East

What is your holistic view of the market dynamics of the solar business in the Middle East region?

The solar market outlook in the Middle East & in particular in GCC countries is very promising. Generally speaking, the region has become a hotbed of low solar tariffs over the last few years. The main drivers are the abundance of sunlight in the region, availability of land, and low-interest rates, while regulations are generally well supported by governments to transition towards renewables and reduce the reliance on fossil fuel.

More specifically on the C&I (Commercial & Industrial) market, the implementation and deployment of advanced regulations such as net-metering systems would enhance the deployment of Solar PV installation in the region.

In addition, increasing awareness and leadership on ESG and sustainability goals, along with potential carbon credits would also drive further the adoption of solar, and renewables.

We firmly believe that a key enabler to fast-track the implementation of the private solar energy sector is bringing access to strong financing and technical capabilities, which in turn allows the Commercial and Industrial sector to invest in their core business while ensuring the long-term reliability and safety of solar system operations.

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Being a Commercial & Industrial Solar developer, how do you see the growth of this segment in the Saudi Arabia market? What are the potential and opportunities?

Solar energy has made exceptional progress in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the government’s support of utility-scale renewable programs and targets. We believe that the C&I segment has the potential to be the largest and fastestgrowing sector in the region if the policies are adequately adjusted.

The interest in solar PV from commercial & industrial users has been growing over the recent years in Saudi Arabia. Several projects have already been installed and are being operated.

The Water and Electricity Regulatory Authority launched the first regulatory framework for Small-Scale Solar PV Systems from 1KW to 2MW for grid-connected PV systems in 2020.

As this regulation matures, the market would prove to be the highest growth potential, with lots of opportunities and interests from users.

With everything going well for solar projects in the Middle East, where do you see challenges for the sector in Saudi Arabia?

There are several challenges facing the C&I market in Saudi Arabia.

First, though the current regulation is an important step forward, there are still many constraints, creating a gap with the international best practices. This gap currently limits the size and execution of projects, and therefore the overall developments.

Secondly, the C&I electricity prices in KSA, actually especially the industrial tariff, are seen as quite low and subsidized. Solar can then have a hard time competing in some cases.

Thirdly, the client’s maturities are fairly uneven. While wellestablished companies understand the lease/PPA models, others are still not familiar with its benefits.

Finally, massive investments will be needed over the next years, which is exactly the role of solar developers, collaborating with an entire eco-system of installers, Operation and Maintenance experts, consultants, etc.

Middle East

How do you see your company contributing to the clean energy sector in the region in the next couple of years?

Our goal is to deliver cost-effective, reliable solar energy solutions to the private sector across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain. We firmly believe that a key enabler to fast-track the implementation of the private solar energy sector is bringing access to strong financing and technical capabilities, which in turn allows the Commercial and Industrial sector to invest in their core business while ensuring the long-term reliability and safety of solar system operations.

By bringing these benefits to the private sector, we play an active role in realizing the Visions 2030, increasing the share of renewables in both Kingdom’s energy mix, while establishing socioeconomic benefits including job creation, promoting local manufacturing, driving corporate social responsibility, and educating future generations.

The fact that clean energy is decentralized, consumed where it is produced also limits the area needed to generate power and lowers the need for larger network infrastructure.

From those perspectives, the contribution is extremely meaningful; we are delighted and proud to be part of this journey.

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The solar market outlook in the Middle East & in particular in GCC countries is very promising. Generally speaking, the region has become a hotbed of low solar tariffs over the last few years.

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 17

OPINION

New electrical tariff and the impact on future of renewable energy installations in Jordan

This followed criteria will lead to deferent consequences that

AUTHOR: DR. FIRAS BALASMEH CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, FB GROUP

will directly affect consumers with renewable systems. For housing systems as an example the market will become very tight and eventually consumers will stop using renewable energy at the end, as they are not getting the desired benefits of renewable systems, such criteria will affect families' behavior’s by shifting most of the electrical usage to peak sun hours’ time which is not applicable by any means, at the end

Starting from 1 Jun 2022, a new electrical tariff came into effect for each economic sector in the market. This massive change will have a serious impact on the renewable energy systems connected to the grid.

the housing renewable system will shortly be out of the equation.

Moreover, the situation is not better for large-scale projects, these changes will increase the payback periods for the

For more understanding about the new tariff and the effects on the renewable energy sector, calculating criteria is shown below:

projects as extra fees will be added to the bill and by removing the Peak demand tariff for all sectors. As well as wheeling projects can not be ignored as no clear regulations were announced by the government.

Monthly Financial Clearance.

Extra produced electrical energy will be exported to the grid for free Electrical consumption from the local grid will cost 120 fils for each KWh

Reference to all above, the renewable energy systems in Jordan are directly going to storage systems and off-grid systems while these methods will save more and have the desired benefits. Keeping in mind that such storage systems mean more sued equipment which will lead to higher capital costs and operation and maintenance costs.

additional fees will be added for each consumer with a renewable energy system. (the fees will be determined according to the system capacity)

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 18

Honors The Consumer’s Favorite Solar Brands In The Middle East

Highest recognition and honor for the companies which have brought business excellence, brand reputation and customer satisfaction for the quality of their service, value, professionalism, and integrity in the Middle East Solar Industry. These awards are the most elusive, exclusive, premiere, and spectacular recognition representing the quality, loyalty and trust of their customers earned over the years. "

Announcing the proud winners of (The winners have been determined on the basis of highest amount of shipments/projects done in MiddleEast Region in the past fiscal year)

Solar Modules:

Cables:

Titanium Winner LONGi Solar

Titanium Winner APAR INDUSTRIES LTD

Solar Inverter: Titanium Winner Huawei

EPC Services:

Titanium Winner Larsen & Toubro Ltd

Solar Tracker:

Titanium Winner PV HARDWARE SOLUTIONS, S.L.

Middle East

PRODUCT FEATURE

LONGi Hi-MO series modules, Unlock More Application Scenarios.

LONGi, founded in 2000, is a world-leading solar technology company. The company has had a long-term, unswerving commitment to monocrystalline technology. LONGi has more than 60,000 employees, 30 branches, and 15 manufacturing bases around the world.

LONGi produces monocrystalline silicon wafers, cells and modules, delivering solutions for distributed and ground mount power station systems, promoting the development of the global PV industry and driving energy transformation. On March 31, 2021, LONGi established the Hydrogen BU, promoting hydrogen energy industrialization.

LONGi has been certified as national enterprise R&D innovation labs for wafers, cells, modules, and PV solutions. We have established strategic partnerships with research institutes to strengthen cooperation between enterprises, universities, and research institutes.

LONGi has supplied its solar modules characterized with stable and reliable performances to 6 continents and 85 countries and regions to light the world for a low carbon future.

Company’s Products & Services LONGi Hi-MO series modules, Unlock More Application Scenarios.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 20

Hi-MO 4 LONGi

Hi-MO

4

series

products

are

monocrystalline bifacial modules using the new M6 (166mm) silicon wafer that delivers the highest power in the modules. LONGi's advanced R&D technology led the upgrade of silicon wafer size from M2 to M6, and ushers in the era of the 166mm standard. LONGi M6 silicon wafer technology enhances the power of the modules, with front side power up to 450W. The results are BOS savings and the lowest LCOE for the photovoltaic project.

Hi-MO 4m Hi-MO 4m modules have significant advantages of high efficiency, high power generation, and high reliability.

Its size and weight scientifically match the requirements of distributed system installation and application scenarios. It is an ultra-high-value product tailored by LONGi for distributed users. The 66 version released this time is a useful supplement to the Hi-MO 4m series modules. The module has an area of about 2

㎡, a

weight of 22kg, and a power of 410~420W. It can be widely used in residential and C&I.

Hi-MO 5 LONGi optimized gallium-doped M10 standard silicon wafers (182mm) to produce a P-Type Mono PERC module with the lowest LID, increased attenuation and power performance as well as long-term reliability. Hi-MO 5 adopts “Smart Soldering” which uses integrated segmented soldering ribbons that maximize light capture and connect cells with reduced gap distance and reduce the tensile stress of the cell.

LONGi leads the solar PV industry to new heights with product innovations and optimized LCOE with breakthrough monocrystalline technologies. LONGi is recognized as the world's leading solar technology company with the highest market

value.

Innovation

and

sustainable development are two of LONGi’s core values.

Middle East

Jan-Feb Issue 2022 | Pg 21

COMPANY FEATURE

LONGI HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AS NATIONAL ENTERPRISE R&D INNO PV SOLUTIONS. LONGi, founded in 2000, is a world-leading solar technology company. The company has had a long-term, unswerving commitment to monocrystalline technology. LONGi has more than 60,000 employees, 30 branches, and 15 manufacturing bases around the world.

LONGi produces monocrystalline silicon wafers, cells and modules, delivering solutions for distributed and ground mount power station systems, promoting the development of the global PV industry and driving energy transformation. On March 31, 2021, LONGi established the Hydrogen BU, promoting hydrogen energy industrialization.

LONGi has been certified as national enterprise R&D innovation labs for wafers, cells, modules, and PV solutions. We have established strategic partnerships with research institutes to strengthen cooperation between enterprises, universities, and research institutes.

LONGi has supplied its solar modules characterized with stable and reliable performances to 6 continents and 85 countries and regions to light the world for a low carbon future.

Company’s Products & Services Hi-MO 4 LONGi Hi-MO 4 series products are monocrystalline bifacial modules using the new M6 (166mm) silicon wafer that delivers the highest power in the modules.

Hi-MO 4m Hi-MO 4m modules have significant advantages of high efficiency, high power generation, and high reliability. Its size and weight scientifically match the requirements of distributed system installation and application scenarios. It is an ultrahigh-value product tailored by LONGi for distributed users. The 66 version released this time is a useful supplement to the Hi-MO 4m series modules. The module has an area of about 2 , a weight of 22kg, and a power of 410~420W. It can be widely used in residential and C&I..

㎡

Hi-MO 5 LONGi optimized gallium-doped M10 standard silicon wafers (182mm) to produce a P-Type Mono PERC module with the lowest LID, increased attenuation and power performance as well as long-term reliability. Hi-MO 5 adopts “Smart Soldering” which uses integrated segmented soldering ribbons that maximize light capture and connect cells with reduced gap distance and reduce the tensile stress of the cell.

Hi-MO N Hi-MO N maintains the optimal 182mm cell and 72c module size and adopts LONGi’s proprietary HPC technique based on

N-type TOPCon (High-Performance Cell with Hybrid Passivated Contact). The conversion efficiency is up to 22.3% and power reaches 570W in mass production. Designed to deliver ultra-high value and lower LCOE to utility-scale PV power plants, Hi-MO N is expected to be the flagship product leading an industrial breakthrough in module efficiency and energy yield.

Business Competitiveness With the technical expertise it has accumulated over the past two decades, LONGi is able to fully commit to providing full scenario product protection, ensuring reliability under all application scenarios. Based on the company’s brand concept of 'customer value first', 'LONGi Lifecycle Quality' was established to guarantee that its products perform reliably and efficiently throughout their lifespan, allowing clients to achieve a high return on investment throughout the entire lifecycle of a PV plant. LONGi maintains a highly professional approach throughout the full lifecycle of module production, starting with the selection of materials. Full-scenario protection has been upgraded with internal standards significantly stricter than those commonly found externally, as illustrated by the example of the company initiating the introduction of thermal runaway tests for junction boxes and bending strength tests for glass.

In terms of product performance monitoring, LONGi has achieved annual, quarterly and monthly high-frequency comprehensive coverage. For example, LONGi PID, LID, LETID and other tests have adopted monthly high-frequency monitoring, covering all product models and each set of BOM. For hail, salt fog, fire prevention and other industries only as an introduction of assessment tests, LONGi initiative into the monitoring of mass production.

Middle East

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VATION LABS FOR WAFERS, CELLS, MODULES, AND In order to protect the rights and interests of customers more comprehensively, LONGi adopts information means to realize the anticounterfeiting inquiry of each component, and constantly improve the product information experience. In view of after-sales service, LONGi is committed to "121" service, has set up a number of branches in the world and configured local staff, to achieve 1-day response, the fastest 7 days return and exchange of after-sales care and customer care.

Quality Policy Of The Company: ISO ratings, standards & specifications etc.

All-round four-standard quality control system: ISO9001, ISO45001, ISO14000, IEC TS 62941, such as the four-door gods, persistent guard the lifeline of LONGi manufacturing. LONGi has a comprehensive quality control system, covering raw material control, process monitoring, finished product reliability monitoring. In particular, LONGi has introduced advanced information data management system, which runs through the whole quality control system, making the implementation and traceability of management standards more efficient and transparent. It is understood that the LONGi component factory covers all bases in the world. At present, it has fully realized the consistency control of material standards, quality standards and test standards to ensure the synchronization of all factory LONGi component standards and the same quality.

The automatic and intelligent workshop in LONGi has 22 levels of manufacturing procedures, 153 quality inspections, 338 process control to ensure the standardization of the production process, to ensure that every panel is of LONG high quality.

Service Pledge: How the company will deliver the highest quality of service LONGi has been committed to higher service standards and customer cooperation, continuing to improve the breadth and depth of service, 24*7 full-time protection of product reliability and safety. At present, the LONGi customer service network has completed the international layout, with more than 10 marketing service networks covering Asia Pacific, Europe, America, central and East Africa and other regions. LONGi professional service team is always on call to remove worries and provide reliable "121" service commitment, which means If there is a promise, we will respond within one day, provide solutions in two days and close the case in one week.

LONGi is responsible for the efficient operation of photovoltaic modules in the whole life cycle.

In order to let customers get better products and service experience, takes the lead in putting forward LONGi standardized service concept, detailed definition and specification of article 10 standard services, from the pre-sale technical advice, sale delivery guarantee, to review power plant put into use after inspection and after treatment, all links, through coherent service chain, providing customers with a superior experience the stand, in the end, Ensure that the whole life cycle of the power station is wordless, longterm, efficient and stable operation.

For example, In the Chinese market, for example, the incomplete statistics, 2021 LONGi customer service has provided nearly 300 large project technical advisory services, on-site installation and maintenance training work more than 60 times, services involved more than 60GW project, power plant visit throughout more than 20 provinces.

LONGi GLOBAL HEADQUARTER

Middle East

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