Renewable Energy Development in OAPEC Countries: History, Current Status, and Outlook

The renewable energy industry has grown its contribution to the global energy mix, particularly in terms of electricity generation. This study investigates the implications of an increasing renewable energy share on OAPEC countries and proposes a comprehensible policy strategy for the region. Four main topics are discussed: scientific and engineering principles of renewable energy utilization, current strategies for electricity generation in each OAPEC member country, economic and environmental implications of the energy transition under two future scenarios, as well as political interactions between oil-consuming and oil-producing countries. Based on this study, realistic and cost-effective strategies are proposed for OAPEC countries to better leverage their significant renewable energy resources while stabilizing fossil fuel supplies and strengthening their position in the global energy market. To mitigate the negative impacts of the energy transition, OAPEC countries are encouraged to take the following steps: 1) Developing renewable energy in conjunction with fossil fuel resources to reduce local demand for fossil fuel and increase the supply for exportation;2) Reviewing economic policies, environmental regulations, and carbon taxes imposed by oil-consuming countries;3) Increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure;4) Cooperating to achieve a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

Carbon Capture Technologies in OAPEC Member Countries and the Circular Carbon Economy: A Roadmap to Zero Emissions by 2050

Several Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) member states (OMSs) have updated their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) with the aim of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. Carbon neutrality requires shifting from a linear carbon economy (LCE) to a circular carbon economy (CCE). Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, including reduction, recycle, reuse, removal, and storage technologies, represent an important strategy for achieving such a shift. Herein, we investigate the effects of CCS technology adoption in six OMSs—namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Algeria, and Iraq—by examining their Circular Carbon Economy Index (CCEI) scores, which reflect compliance with CCE-transition policies. Total CCEI, current performance CCEI dimension, and future enabler CCEI dimensions scores were compared among the aforementioned six OMSs and relative to Norway, which was used as a global-high CCEI reference standard. Specifically, CCEI general scope and CCEI oil scope dimension scores were compared. The KSA, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait had higher CCEI scores than Algeria and Iraq, reflecting their greater adoption of CCE-transition policies and greater emission-reducing modernization investments. The current performance CCEI scores of Algeria and Iraq appear to be buttressed to some extent by their greater natural carbon sink resources. Based on the findings, we recommend specific actions for OMSs to enhance their CCE transitions and mitigate the negative impacts associated with the associated investments, including: taking rapid practical steps to eliminate carbon oil industry emissions;detailed CCS planning by national oil companies;international cooperation and coordination;and increased investment in domestic CCS utilization infrastructure.