Solar Energy Adoption: Technical Advantages and Challenges for the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

At present, the world depends merely on nonrenewable sources of energy for the generation of electricity, and with the passage of time, it is assumed that these resources will be depleting. This calls for a renewable source of energy to entrust the future of incoming generations. Solar energy could be one of the best forms of this energy and is used widely across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries where energy can be stored in cells and can provide electricity. GCC governments have ensured the increased use of sustainable energy sources to replace non-sustainable energy sources. For this purpose, GCC has devised rules, regulations, and policies and introduced large-scale projects. With the steadily decreasing prices of solar energy, the whole world has opened up to the idea of replacing conventional power, which majorly depends on fossil fuels across the globe, with renewable energy sources. Recently, many GCC countries shifted their focus a bit from oil and gas towards cleaner energy, solar. In this study, we look into some of the major challenges facing solar technology deployment in the GCC region along with government initiatives to encourage the widespread adoption of renewable energy alternatives. These measures will allow governments to meet their energy demands while lowering their overall carbon footprint.