GREEN BEGINNINGS
Renewables are a small part of Ras Al Khaimah's energy mix, but the recently formed Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewables sees significant potential in solar and waste conversion projects.
Decreasing barriers to entry have made green energy projects a more attractive source of power for governments looking for alternatives, and a growing understanding of the environmental benefits of renewable technologies mean that governments with an eye on the long run now see them as a way to ensure their country's economic health and prosperity for the decades to come. Far from being reluctant to change, the UAE has been among the leaders in investing in green technologies, recognizing that its natural resources and prior energy infrastructure make it a natural fit for renewable energy projects. Ras Al Khaimah is no different, and the past few years have seen the UAE's northernmost Emirate enter into a series of agreements with international green energy firms in an effort to increase its share of energy generated from renewable sources, as well as launching new waste management programs to create a greener Emirate.
Industry and government leaders believe that Ras Al Khaimah holds significant renewable energy potential. At present, the Emirate receives most of its energy through imported gas, but the government has discussed setting a target of obtaining 25-30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2040. Though Ras Al Khaimah's population is only the fourth-highest in the UAE, the Emirate's manufacturing base places unique demands on its energy supply; in 2017, the industrial sector accounted for around 45% of the 5.3TW hours of energy consumed in Ras Al Khaimah. This means that new power sources added to the Emirate's energy mix must be able to meet the constant high-energy demands for industrial applications. Industry leaders see solar as one of the renewable technologies with the greatest potential; the high insolation rates of the GCC has made the region a natural fit for large-scale solar projects. Ras Al Khaimah has begun to invest in solar energy later than many of its neighbors but plans to make it a key part of its energy mix by making solar energy 5-10% of its mix by 2025.
This will largely come via large-scale solar projects, which have become an increasingly more attractive option as the price of photovoltaic cells have decreased; one UAE organization estimates that PV prices have fallen 80% since 2009. In 2018, UAE utilities provider Utico issued a 20-year tender for a 40MW solar project in Ras Al Khaimah; the company has long-term plans for two plants with combined capacity of more than 140MW. To build a better knowledge base and increase access to renewable technologies, the Emirate's educational institutions have also begun to form new partnerships; in late 2017, the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) signed an agreement with a German multinational focusing on green energy solutions in order to help support students in solar research.
Ras Al Khaimah's other priority with regards to green energy is the more efficient management and usage of the Emirate's waste. The Emirate has set the goal of diverting 75% of its waste from landfills by 2021 by adapting international best practices that call for increasing composting, recycling, and waste reduction efforts. These initiatives are of particular importance in the hospitality industry, where they will allow the Emirate to maintain its reputation as a destination for outdoor and adventure tourism thanks to its unique mountain and coastal environments. Ras Al Khaimah's new regulations called for hotels to recycle 15% of their waste by the end of 2017, with that number increasing to 30 and 50% in subsequent years. Planned waste-to-energy conversion facilities offer a chance to convert waste into another energy source; a July 2017 deal calls for Abu Dhabi energy company Masdar to develop a facility in Ras Al Khaimah that will convert the UAE's solid waste into biomass fuel. The Emirate has also begun e-waste collection services designed to facilitate proper disposal of electronic waste productions by giving consumers sites where it can be deposited for free.
GREEN BEGINNINGS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
ndrea Di Gregorio, , Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables , RAK Municipality Department
TBY talks to Andrea Di Gregorio, Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables of the RAK Municipality Department, on the Emirate's overall strategy, specific programs, and early supporters of energy efficiency and renewables.
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Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General, Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED)
TBY talks to Abdulrhman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAK DED), on improving the ease of doing business, key diversification pillars, and the impact of new VAT.
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Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ)
TBY talks to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), on offering investors a global platform, creating a one-stop shop, and the strategic comparative advantages of access to the Indian Ocean.
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Manu Mehra, CFO, RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO)
TBY talks to Manu Mehra, CFO of the RAK Investment & Development Office (RAK IDO), on the role of free zones in diversification, the benefits of smart state intervention, and the keys most needed for a strong manufacturing sector.
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Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman, Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME)
TBY talks to Yousef Esmaeel, Chairman of the Supreme Committee of Saud Bin Saqr Establishment for Youth Enterprises Development (RAK SME), on incentivizing young people, working with local government to encourage entrepreneurialism, and the role of SMEs in the UAE marketplace.
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Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director, Al Marjan Island
TBY talks to Abdullah Al Abdooli, Managing Director of Al Marjan Island, on the continuous growth of the real estate market in RAK, its robust investment landscape, and the Emirate's ambitious plans to develop its tourism sector.
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Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President , American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK)
TBY talks to Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), on the consequences of growing global demand for education and AURAK's efforts to attract students from beyond the Emirate.
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Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU)
TBY talks to S. Gurumadhva Rao, Vice Chancellor of the RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU), on the further development of higher education, its key differentiators, and the need for qualified doctors.
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Taner Topcu, Director, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone’s (RAKEZ) Academic Zone
Taner Topcu holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Anadolu University in Turkey. He is an industry expert with more than 20 years of successful experience in education, hospitality, business development, and customer relations. Prior to joining RAKEZ in 2015, Taner worked at TECOM Investment's Education Cluster in Dubai Knowledge Village and Dubai International Academic City, where he worked in operations, business development, and account management. He also worked at Aabar Investments in Abu Dhabi as a Business Development Manager and at Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority as a Director of Engagement Operations.
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