Your vision for the digital future of the Arab region

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e-SOLAR
Produce, consume, and sell the surplus energy
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Target groups

Change makers, Public figures and influencers, and Public sector officials

Observation

Arab world, blessed by ample sunlight and open space, do not rely on solar power.

Arab countries potential for using solar energy is enormous, they are the richest in solar energy in the world. Investing in solar energy creates new opportunities for small and medium enterprises, and absorb and localize industry, research and development in renewable energy.

Nowadays, Arab world witnesses profound changes on solar energy due to the development of technology to optimize, store and transport it.

Conclusion

The Arab countries must have ambitious strategies that show the will to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Solar energy technologies are very important in Arab countries for several reasons that include the gradual decrease in cost of production, the trend toward diversification of energy sources, reducing the depletion of national oil resources, and the sharp fluctuations in conventional energy prices which put pressure on development programs in the non-oil producing.

Solution

One of the most promising technologies is solar energy that converts heat from solar radiation directly into electrical energy through photovoltaic cells.

If you own the means of producing your own solar energy, it means you’ll be less affected by the rising prices of utility-supplied power as the years roll on and you can expect your solar installation to pay for itself.

Also, by being a producer, you can store your energy for later personal use or resale, which represents even more savings.

Key Problem

There is a significant effect on the power sector in Arab region, as power cuts have become pervasive in many countries, feeding in to citizens’ dissatisfaction with the state.

More than 40 percent of the Arab population in rural and urban poor areas do not have adequate access to energy services. It is also noted that almost one-fifth of the Arab population relies on non-commercial fuels for different energy uses.

Which field and which area?

The chosen field is smart cities containing digitalized infrastructure grids, with the participation of public and private sectors as well as individuals, where energy is produced from solar energy which is available throughout the year.

This idea is suitable for implementation in the five countries concerned with this project.. Countries that changed from oil-exporters to oil-importers such as Egypt and Tunisia as well as other oil-importing countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Morocco.

Effects of the problem

There is steady population growth and energy consumption in Arab countries, government subsidies of fuel, rising poverty and unemployment, and failure to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

All this leads to pressure on the environment, represented by higher consumption, greater pollution, and deterioration of space, air, soil, and water.

The state of environmental degradation and loss of environmental vision will be very costly for the next generation. Similarly, urban air pollution, oil spills, and global warming (the greenhouse effect) are all good reasons to reconsider environmentally friendly alternatives.

There are four main incentives that motivate countries to move to renewable energy: energy security, climate change, cost, and job creation.

My idea helps in reducing gas emissions and energy usage as effective methods for keeping the environment clean.

It also solves the problem of inequitable distribution of energy between different neighborhoods or cities.

Solution

The idea is based on the installation of solar modules on the roofs of all the buildings in the smart city, whether residential or public, to produce the amount of electric power that are consumed throughout the day.

A smart connection to the public grid is implemented to compensate for the deficit in consumption, or distribution of surplus for use in public facilities or even sell it to other participants who suffer from a deficit in the energy production that does not meet all their needs.

Additional Slide - 1

A solar panel system with a total rated capacity of 5kW needs 50 sqm on your roof and produces 10,000 kWh of electricity every year in Arab region.

By being a producer, you can store energy for later personal use or resale. With a typical solar setup, you can sell unused excess energy back to the local supplier.

Or if you choose to use batteries, which are becoming more and more cost-effective as demand rises and technology improves, you can keep the energy reserves to use when necessary.

Additional Slide - 2

Usage includes lighting, supplying all electrical appliances with power, and even charging the electric car at home.

If you stay connected to the grid, as usually recommended, you have the local power lines as a backup energy method. You’ll generate energy through your solar panels and use that first, and then if you need more you’ll automatically tap into the grid.

Additional Slide - 3

To achieve that, digitalization is a must for the fully automated power grid in the smart city.

An application via the internet shows to each participant the amount of produced energy from the solar modules installed on the building's roof, as well as the amount of consumption, and the difference between them that determines the value of energy purchased or sold.

This application also helps in improvement in the rationalization of consumption and energy saving.