According to Mordor Intelligence, the solar PV market could hit 1.76 thousand GW in 2024. This figure could further increase to 6.09 thousand GW in 2029, reflecting a CAGR of 22.9%. This expansion is driven by lower solar panel and installation costs — coupled with more intensive initiatives by governments to utilise clean energy.
Today, we live in a world that has never been more adamant about attaining a more sustainable tomorrow. One of the heroes of this narrative is solar energy. What was once a niche cleaner alternative has become a leading renewable source, and innovations in photovoltaic (PV) technology are helping countries worldwide harness the sun’s power even more efficiently.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the solar PV market could hit 1.76 thousand GW in 2024. This figure could further increase to 6.09 thousand GW in 2029, reflecting a CAGR of 22.9%. This expansion is driven by lower solar panel and installation costs — coupled with more intensive initiatives by governments to utilise clean energy.
Such is the case in the Middle East, where more countries are leveraging innovations in PV technology to meet their energy targets.
Bifacial solar panels
Traditionally, solar panels are monofacial. As the name implies, these panels only absorb sunlight from only one side. A game-changing innovation, bifacial solar panels are panels that capture light from both sides. This substantially enhances energy output, even achieving up to 30% higher efficiency than their conventional counterparts.
In the UAE, various phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park feature bifacial technology to maximise its energy production. For example, the third and fifth phases employ bifacial PV panels combined with single-axis tracking systems. This system tracks the sun’s movement throughout the day for optimal sunlight exposure.
Ibraheem Almansouri, Director of Engineering at Masdar, previously noted that the UAE is an early adopter of bifacial panels.
“Bifacial has a lot of advantages in the region. If you look back at history, Masdar was the first to propose bifacial in the region [in 2017]. When there is a new technology, people hesitate about the risks associated with it, but as a developer, we do in-depth analysis and try to act ahead of the times.”
“It’s starting to be the norm in the region – most projects have been using bifacial panels since 2019, including two in Oman. Our sand is very bright, so the reflection is very high,” he added.
In Iraq, QatarEnergy, in partnership with TotalEnergies, announced in October an initiative involving the installation of 2 million bifacial solar panels with single-axis trackers. The project aims to generate 1.25 GW of solar energy, powering 350,000 homes in Iraq’s Basra region. The completion will be done in phases between 2025 and 2027.
Building-integrated photovoltaics
Building-integrated photovoltaics or BIPVs are all about integrating solar technology into modern architecture.
When people talk about solar technology, they mostly think of solar panels mounted on rooftops or those expansive solar farms. BIPV systems, meanwhile, are embedded right into building materials. Think windows, facades, roofing, and walls. This approach offers a sustainable energy source, especially for high-rise structures, which are common in Middle Eastern cities like Dubai — where cooling demands are also high.
A recent study has, in fact, looked into the potential of BIPV to reduce energy consumption in Dubai’s skyscrapers. A group of experts simulated the energy efficiency of several BIPV configurations, revealing that combining window replacement with BIPV applications could reduce energy consumption by 13.2% to 32.8%. They found that the most effective solutions are installing amorphous thin-film PVs, Low-E glass, and crystalline PVs as exterior wall finishes. Rooftop BIPV systems work best for low-rise buildings, while full BIPV integration provides greater benefits for high-rise structures.
Cleaning robots
One critical concern on solar PV panels is dust and dirt accumulation. Especially in regions like the Middle East, sand can significantly reduce solar panels’ efficiency and energy output. This is where cleaning robots come in handy. Equipped with sensors and automation technology, these robots minimise the need for manual cleaning, which is downright labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.
Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park, proving to be a truly iconic solar project, relies on cleaning robots to detect dust levels and clean panels accordingly. Not only did this reduce the need for human intervention, but it also lowered water consumption.
Earlier in July, Oman’s Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Development (RAID) laboratory, in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), also launched a new solar cleaning robot.
This homegrown innovation autonomously cleans solar panels, using solar power to operate and collect data. The system features sensors that adjust cleaning methods based on the type of dirt (e.g., dry dust or more stubborn grime), allowing for either dry or wet cleaning as needed.
