With booming domestic demand for power, the hydrocarbon-rich Arabian Gulf countries are exploring the use of alternative and renewable energy resources - including coal, nuclear, solar, wind and hydrogen - says a leading industry expert.

'The vast majority of power generation projects in the Arabian Gulf are for power stations using conventional gas for their energy source,' said Group CEO of ESR Technology, one of the world's leading engineering, safety and risk management companies, David Weaver.

'But the region is struggling to find enough suitable gas to meet future power demands and the first signs are beginning to emerge of major investment in the region into alternatives,' he added.

'It may seem surprising that, with all the available hydrocarbon reserves, alternatives are figuring increasingly in Gulf region power planning. However this is displaying the classic wisdom: 'In victory plan for defeat.' In other words, when times are good, build resources against future uncertainty,' he added.

There are 114 active power generation projects of all types in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE worth a combined total of well over $160 billion.

'The UAE - with an insatiable and growing demand for power which it is unable to meet from gas alone, along with pressures to reduce high per capita carbon dioxide emissions -  is leading the way in looking seriously at alternative energy sources,' said Weaver, chairman of the Power and Finance Week conference which begins today (October 28 and concludes on November 1) at the Sheraton Hotel in Bahrain.

'A nuclear programme study is to be carried out on behalf of Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company and is said to have a budget of $4 billion,' Weaver added. 

'This project is not connected to the GCC's nuclear programme with the General Secretariat of the GCC budgeting $10 billion for the design, supply, build and operation of a nuclear plant for power generation and water desalination in a country yet to be chosen,' he added.

In co-operation with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Masdar is also studying the possibility of building a hydrogen fired power plant. The project is in the early stage of study but has a budget of $100 million.

Meanwhile, Dubai is taking a lead in wind power research. A study is being carried out for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority for a $1 billion wind farm project.

'The research is on wind as alternative source for power in the region and is on a grand scale, aiming to supply up to 10 per cent of Dubai city's power requirement,' said Weaver. The scope of work involves the meteorological study, design, supply, installation and operation of 70 metre high wind turbines.

In addition, the growing energy demands of the region have also raised the prospect of clean-burn, coal-fired power stations. A study into a $1 billion coal fired power plant is being carried out by Taqa, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.

'All these projects demonstrate that even in the hydrocarbon-rich economies of the Arabian Gulf, the move towards sustainable and renewable energy sources is gathering pace,' Weaver said.- TradeArabia News Service