Despite a lot of hype, interest in developing solar
energy in the Arabian Gulf has yet to translate into delivered
projects. Kevin Connor looks at some of the hurdles that have so
far prevented foreign investors from buying into a potentially
lucrative market.
Much has been written recently about the huge potential for the
development of a solar energy industry in the six-country Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) and the broader Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) region. Indeed, the potential levels of installed
capacity being discussed have attracted the attention of investors
and industry players from around the world. This enthusiasm is well
founded given the concrete steps that countries in the region have
been taking to develop sustainable renewable energy as a
significant part of the region's energy mix. While the solar
energy business is still in its infancy in the GCC, there is no
doubt that solar energy constitutes a very real potential renewable
energy source
