Energy Galore

Person
By Person

Hello there folks.

I have been wondering about something for quite a while, and hope some of you in the know can shed light on this.

We all know Qatar runs on the oil and gas industry. But why not put the existing international reputation as an energy provider to full use? Go out of Doha and look around...there just isn't much else but sand. But it is nearly always sunny, and there are often strong winds.

One would think it feasible to produce a significant quantity of energy from wind and solar farms, perhaps even enough to run a large part of the national economy and thus freeing even more of the petrochemical energy resources for export (and get richer still).
Going seriously into renewable energy sources would of course require sizable initial investments, but with the latest technology in wind generators and solar panels, would it not still be economically viable?

And think of the image boost in the more green-conscious countries...and in the long-term future, a replenishing energy reserve and a contribution to the local ecosystem. And even if it's not that soon, there will be a time when the gas is no more.

What I would like to know from all you people working in the energy field is if there is or has ever been any research into the use of solar or wind energy in Qatar, or any initiative, or any discussion at all? For all I know there could well be a detailed plan to establish such facilities, but then again it could be that the whole idea has always been completely dismissed.

In Europe, I know of a collective of private individuals with no experience in the field who set up a windfarm and sold shares to the public. They now sell electricity to the national grid. Next venture perhaps...?:)

By feelreal• 25 Sep 2006 21:16
Rating: 3/5
feelreal

...its amazing that with all this new construction that no buildings incorporate solar panels or are designed to be energy-efficient.

I guess it has to do with cheap fuel and power here. In European countries I imagine for many people they go for energy efficiency because of the high price of energy (e.g. buying Toyota Prius cars) rather than just the desire to be green.

Qatar is such a low and flat country if the sea levels do rise due global warming it would be under water pretty quick.

These considerations never seem to get mentioned, with everyone zooming around in their SUVs.

I would be very interested to hear about any changes afoot in this area...

By nabil_munir• 25 Sep 2006 10:45
nabil_munir

I fully admit u by the fact that Qatar have the resources of oil and gas .but the actual thing to consider that how they work out with it for their future taking into account their past, when the only source of income are pearls.They must think that if we are given the chance by the nature we must avail it positively.

thats all.

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