Description
A Master of Science thesis in Engineering Systems Management by Mayyas Abdelrahman Rashid Alsalman Al-Ali entitled, “A Feasibility Study for Solar Energy Generation Policy Mechanisms in The UAE”, submitted in November 2021. Thesis advisor is Dr. Vian Ahmed. Soft copy is available (Thesis, Completion Certificate, Approval Signatures, and AUS Archives Consent Form).
Abstract
In a modern world, life would not be possible without energy, as energy plays a significant role in the development of nations. The rapid economic growth combined with the increasing energy demand is a continuous driving force for economic development, social advancement, and improved quality of life. Over the past few decades, the impact of energy demand on the environment has increased the focus of global nations on the sustainability efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that require intervention and a shared sense of responsibility in reducing emissions. Studies revealed that the energy sector alone accounts for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions as more than 80% of energy needs are satisfied using hydrocarbon-based resources. The GCC is a known region for its substantial hydrocarbon resources; besides, the GCC's energy sector is the primary source of CO# due to fossil fuel usage as the energy demand in this region is estimated to increase above the world average by 3% yearly. Upon looking into the UAE's case, it was found that due to the rapid economic growth, the UAE is among the world's highest CO# emitters, which contributes to 0.7% of the world's annual emission due to fossil fuel consumption. Thus, renewable energy policy mechanisms are needed to support renewable energy deployment in the UAE to achieve a significant renewable energy share in the national mix. As such, several energy policy mechanisms promote renewable energy deployment, which includes feed-in-tariffs, metering, renewable energy auctions, quotas, and investment tax credits that are merely confined to two emirates Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Such policy mechanisms indicate a gap between the policy formulations and their actual implementation within the UAE, which impacts the long-term energy consumption dependent on fossil fuels. Therefore, this study intends to evaluate the techno-economic analysis of the factors affecting renewable energy deployment by using HOMER Grid Software. Also, to recommend solar energy generation in the UAE by encouraging electricity authorities to adopt the most feasible policy mechanism, which aligns with UAE's strategy in attaining sustainable growth to meet the local demand.