Oman is planning to harness its wind resources for power generation alongside solar energy. These plans are currently focused on onshore projects, and Omani authorities believe there is significant potential for offshore wind development in later phases. It is also estimated that around 6,000 wind turbines (alongside 40 million solar panels) will be needed to support the targeted production of one million tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030.
Offshore wind status in the Middle East
The “Global Offshore Wind Report 2024” released by the Brussels-based organization, however, points out that offshore wind development in the Middle East region remains largely untapped, despite ambitious commitments by countries in the region to move away from fossil fuels.
“Given its weather conditions and geographical location, the Middle East is often seen as an ideal location for solar energy development, and sometimes the equally significant wind potential is overlooked,” the Global Wind Energy Council says in its report. “However, it is important to note that countries such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt and Oman have significant wind potential, both onshore and offshore.”
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the current offshore wind capacity accounts for only a minuscule proportion of the total offshore wind potential of around 1,400 GW in the Middle East.
Challenges and future outlook
“The wind industry in the Middle East is considered a nascent industry, with only a few champion countries like Morocco and Egypt. The significant potential of offshore wind indicates that development in the Middle East region is possible (and necessary). However, this depends greatly on the investment environment, national regulations and permitting procedures, as well as the availability of a skilled workforce with experience in this industry,” the report said.
Emphasizing the importance of offshore wind development, Rebecca Williams, GWEC’s Chief Strategy Officer, added: “The global offshore wind industry must now ‘chart a course’ for the growth that lies ahead… It is essential that our efforts to bring the massive pipeline of projects planned for deployment by 2030 to fruition are sharply focused, while also establishing a robust framework for the vast volume of offshore wind that will be deployed in the 2030s. Our 2024 report is aimed at supporting industry and policymakers in achieving these goals. Globally, we have just seven years to reach the 380 GW of offshore wind needed to stay on a 1.5-degree Celsius pathway. There is no time to waste.”
Source: Oman, a land with immense offshore wind potential: Report – Oman Observer
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