Dii Desert Energy says the MENA region is likely to have installed 131 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030
This comprises all projects under construction, under development and announced so far
Solar PV makes up the largest chunk, but it would need another 40 GW to be planned and executed by 2030 to meet official ambitions
Going by the total current project pipeline in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, if all projects under construction, under development and announced are realized, its total installed renewable energy capacity will reach 131 GW by 2030. Solar PV will have the largest share of the lot at 75 GW, according to Dii Desert Energy.
Onshore wind will contribute 50 GW, while 4 GW will come from concentrated solar power (CSP), and 2 GW from offshore wind, says this energy transition think tank in its latest report titled MENA Energy Outlook 2025: Renewables, Hydrogen and Energy Storage Insights 2030.
Formerly Desertec Industrial Initiative, the Dii report tracks utility-scale projects with over 5 MW installed capacity. It counts 714 of such projects in its database at the end of 2024, comprising standalone solar PV, solar-thermal, and wind projects.
The current installed solar PV capacity in the region stands at 22.3 GW comprising 2.6 GW added in 2023. The region is led by the UAE where more than 5 GW is deployed. The latter includes over 1.5 GW installed at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park) in Dubai and the 2 GW Al Dhafra project in Abu Dhabi (see 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Plant Commissioned In UAE).
According to the report writers, the 2030 ambitions for renewable energy in the MENA region, particularly wind and solar, add up to 236 GW including 115 GW of solar PV. The 75 GW solar PV capacity will be realized if the current pipeline is met, but the region will need to plan for another 40 GW to meet its targets over the next 5 years.
Energy storage is also becoming important to manage the variability of renewable energy and enhance grid stability. According to the report’s database, there is currently about 13,000 MWh of operational energy storage capacity in the MENA region, with most of these 9 projects comprising battery energy storage systems (BESS). Another 11 projects are under construction to bring online 16,750 MWh, while more than 25,000 MWh are currently undergoing the tendering process in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Morocco.
“We are aware that changes in the global political landscape may have a strong influence on the energy transition in the MENA region as international relations and energy policies adapt to the new course,” according to the report writers. “We believe that leadership in the MENA region will as well ensure increased business cases for clean energy investors and operators in the coming period. As such, the next months will be crucial to determine these new dynamics and set the direction for the MENA region.”
The complete report is available for free download on Dii Desert Energy website.