Recommendations on renewable energy policies for the GCC countries Zeineb Abdmouleh n , Rashid A.M. Alammari, Adel Gastli Electrical Engineering Department, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar article info Article history: Received 2 July 2014 Received in revised form 20 April 2015 Accepted 2 May 2015 Keywords: GCC Policies Renewable Energy Regulatory framework abstract Energy security was the major driver for several countries in the world to opt for alternative sources of energy and reduce CO 2 emissions. Being blessed with oil and gas reserves, the situation in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries may look different, in a way that investments on Renewable Energy (RE) projects do not create adequate short-term financial returns. However, considering the extreme increase of energy demand locally caused by the industrial and economic development in the region will make seizing the emerging opportunity to develop RE projects a strategic decision. This paper targets regional decision-makers as well as multilateral stakeholders, in an attempt to formulate a set of recommendations on policies to promote RE deployment. It presents the results of the study that covered all GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman). The document summarizes GCC countries’ RE targets and highlights the main projects and measures established to start this transition. Furthermore, this paper provides an updated and comprehensive overview of the RE situation in the GCC countries, and it includes an assessment of the region’s RE potential, current installed RE capacity and project pipeline, institutional and market frameworks. This study analyses the main gaps concerning RE deployment in the region while discussing the financial, fiscal, political, legislative, technological and environmental aspects. Based on that, a set of recommendations is proposed to fill their gaps and help achieving their politically endorsed targets particularly in the electricity sector. The proposed recommendations will help to accelerate the development rate of GCC RE market, support governments’ efforts towards fulfilling future RE targets, and overcome potential barriers. However such policies analysis should be carried out individually for each country of the GCC region taking into consideration the specificity of each market and economic strategies with more adapted measures. & 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1181 2. Renewable energies in the GCC region.................................................................................. 1181 2.1. Renewable energy potential in the GCC region ..................................................................... 1181 2.1.1. Solar energy .......................................................................................... 1181 2.1.2. Wind energy ......................................................................................... 1182 2.1.3. Biofuels and biogas .................................................................................... 1182 2.2. Specific Issues facing REs in the GCC Countries ..................................................................... 1182 2.2.1. Solar energy .......................................................................................... 1182 2.2.2. Wind energy ......................................................................................... 1183 2.2.3. Low energy prices ..................................................................................... 1184 2.2.4. Water scarcity ........................................................................................ 1184 3. Current state of renewable energies in the GCC countries .................................................................. 1184 3.1. Renewable energy plans and targets ............................................................................. 1185 3.2. Existing projects ............................................................................................. 1185 3.3. Existing policies and measures .................................................................................. 1185 4. Recommendation for RE integration in the GCC countries .................................................................. 1186 4.1. Recommendations related to financial support ..................................................................... 1186 4.1.1. Removing subsidies .................................................................................... 1186 4.1.2. Adapting subsidies ..................................................................................... 1186 4.1.3. Suggesting new financial support ......................................................................... 1186 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.057 1364-0321/& 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. n Corresponding author. Tel.: þ974 66 340 696. E-mail addresses: zeineb.abdmouleh@qu.edu.qa (Z. Abdmouleh), ralammari@qu.edu.qa (R.A.M. Alammari), adel.gastli@qu.edu.qa (A. Gastli). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 50 (2015) 1181–1191