The side events, organized by the Gulf Coordination Council (GCC), covered several initiatives and projects of organizations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and highlighted the need for a knowledge sharing hub on renewables in the GCC region.
5 December 2012: The Gulf Coordination Council (GCC) organized two panels on “Renewable Energy in GCC Countries” in the context of the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Doha, Qatar, to discuss various renewable energy initiatives and technologies within the GCC region.
During the panels, which took place on 5 December, several organizations presented on projects and initiatives, including: the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC); the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST); the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE); the King Abudulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST); the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); and Saudi Aramco.
Participants on the panels discussed, inter alia: photovoltaic (PV)-activated processes to produce clean hydrogen; the need for PV to become more cost competitive; solar water desalination; water use in cleaning PV systems in water-scarce areas; the need for a knowledge sharing hub on renewables in the GCC; and the role of the government and private sector in research and development (R&D) of innovative technologies. [IISD RS Coverage of the Side Event Panel 1] [IISD RS Coverage of the Side Event Panel 2]