As the Gulf Cooperation Council nations rapidly transition to significant energy transitions, individuals seek clean and dependable alternatives that do not make use of fossil fuel. The region, comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman is known around the globe as having immense plans to harness solar power. However, there is another precious yet neglected resource found below the desert sands, which is geothermal energy. This robust source of heat has the potential to spearhead the clean energy of the GCC.
The Case for Geothermal in the GCC
Geothermal energy is based on the heat found in the earth and it is available round the clock unlike solar or wind. Solar panels and wind turbines can only generate electricity on sunny days or when there is a gale of wind. Geothermal offers a consistent and predictable supply of electricity, thus, can be used to cover the lapses and supplement the increasing solar consumption in the area.
The energy diversification drive in the GCC is not just a business strategy but a requisite in long term energy security and a cleaner world. By the year 2030, governments are planning to put in place more than 100 gigawatts of renewable energy and geothermal has the potential to satisfy such reliability requirements.
Cooling, Water, and the Promise of Geothermal
This is because the climate in the GCC is not the same as in other areas. It complicates the use of energy particularly since it requires high levels of cooling. Air conditioning overloads power grids in the summer. This issue will continue to increase with the increase in temperature. That can be solved by Geothermal cooling. The naturally cool temperatures found underground are used to cool the buildings by way of district cooling systems. They save on expenses and minimize pollution. The pilot programs in Dubai and other regions in the UAE indicate that this concept is successful and appealing.
Another major issue is water scarcity. The machines used to convert salty water to drinkable water can be powered by geothermal energy. This implies that we do not use oil or gas anymore. It aids in the preservation of water and energy, as well as the GCC countries to satisfy the lower needs of citizens.
Momentum in the Region
There is an urge to exploit geothermal energy in the GCC. The geothermal market in the Middle East is likely to increase significantly within the coming years and may go up to approximately $473 million by the year 2033. Saudi Arabia is investigating its geothermal resources which are large. In the meantime, the ADNOC of the UAE is also beginning to analyze the application of geothermal in cooling districts and other applications.
Such initiatives are facilitated by increased investment, government subsidies and more qualified regional and international firms.
Challenges and the Path Forward
To realize the geothermal potential of the GCC, good geology will not be enough. The first resource is the technical challenge of deep drilling, which is expensive at the start, and it requires individuals with specialized expertise to perform checking and resource design. The participation of the policy makers, government and collaboration with other nations will be very vital to seal these issues and demonstrate how great geothermal can be when implemented on a grand scale.
Conclusion
The GCC could find itself in its own sands writing its next story, given that it is a region that has been leading in energy. Through the application of geothermal energy, the Gulf countries will be able to have a future in which the cleanest, safest, and reliable power would be not only the sun above, but also the Earth itself.
