The Qatar World Cup kicked off with excitement on November 21. From this moment on, the 32 participating teams will be running and sweating for the World Cup and the love of football. Just like the slogan of this World Cup, “Now is all,” the world is once again in solidarity with football, and the world is focused on the host country, Qatar.
As one of the hottest countries in the world, Qatar chose to host the World Cup in winter, but its average maximum temperature reached 30℃, which led to operations such as “outdoor air conditioning cooling”. On the other hand, although the host country has a strong position in the traditional energy industry, But it still made a solemn promise of the first “carbon neutral” World Cup. This means that the energy transition has reached every country in the world and is not unique.
The first “carbon neutral” World Cup
In preparation for the first “carbon neutral” World Cup, the organizing committee has unveiled ten measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including building sustainable buildings, planning renewable energy solutions, recycling stadiums, creating green Spaces and green transportation. Among them, the use of a large number of renewable energy has become a top priority, and the Khalsa 800MW photovoltaic power station in Qatar built by a Chinese company came into being under this background.
It is the first solar power plant in Qatar, the first non-fossil fuel power plant and by far the third largest single photovoltaic power plant in the world. The project all uses the Hi-MO double-sided modules of Longi, a Chinese enterprise, which is the world’s largest photovoltaic project using tracking system and double-sided modules. It is expected to provide Qatar with about 1.8 billion KWH of green electricity every year, which can meet the annual electricity consumption of about 300,000 households, and reduce about 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. By providing clean electricity to the World Cup venues, it will help the grand promise of the first “carbon neutral” World Cup.
At present, the photovoltaic power station, which is a milestone for the development of Qatar’s new energy industry, has been put into full operation. Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) has announced that the carbon emissions saved by the plant will be used to offset about half of the emissions generated by Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup.
Why the Middle East is bursting with Photovoltaics
Qatar, a country on the southwest coast of the Persian Gulf, adjacent to Saudi Arabia and separated by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the north and south, is rich in natural gas and oil resources. Thanks to the bounty of nature, Qatar has become one of the richest countries in the Middle East.
The construction of photovoltaic power stations in Qatar is the epitome of the energy transformation in the whole Middle East region. According to relevant data, the Middle East will add 50GW of photovoltaic installations in the next ten years. So why is the Middle East a focus area for PV development?
First of all, the Middle East is generally rich in solar radiation resources. The climate of countries in the Middle East is mainly subtropical desert climate, drought and little rain, and abundant solar radiation resources. This is a prerequisite for the large-scale development of solar power in the Middle East.
The solar radiation resources of Middle Eastern countries can meet the conditions of economic development.
At the same time, the global consensus on carbon neutrality has prompted Middle Eastern countries to seek economic reforms. The application of photovoltaic power generation technology can not only effectively utilize the abundant solar energy resources in the Middle East region, but also meet the requirements of low technology cost. It is worth mentioning that the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency is located in the United Arab Emirates, and the headquarters of the global new energy international governance body is located in a country dominated by traditional energy sources. This is itself a signal of the Middle East seeking energy transformation.
At this stage, the Middle East still plays an important role in the energy industry. By the end of 2021, the remaining recoverable reserves of oil and gas in the Middle East are 113.2 billion tons and 75.8 trillion cubic meters, accounting for 48.3% and 40.3% of the global total, respectively. The ongoing development of new energy sources is of overall significance to the Middle East, sometimes almost becoming a byword for the whole economy and even comprehensive reform. It is fair to say that the energy transformation of the Middle East not only concerns its own future and destiny, but also affects the global energy pattern.
In fact, whether it’s Qatar, the Middle East or the rest of the world, a clean and low-carbon energy transition is already underway. As the backbone force to promote a new round of energy revolution.
The improvement of energy technology and efficiency often determines the transformation of human production. From observing the static electricity of amber rubbing against fur, to trying to catch the lightning that cuts through the night sky, to the first generator that can generate continuous current, the development of electric technology has become the power of the world and brought light to people’s lives. The emergence of photovoltaic power generation has transformed the world energy industry from resource attribute to manufacturing attribute.
This is the mission, but also the glory of photovoltaic.
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