The Solar Energy Potential of MENA Region

Year 2023, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 59 - 78, 15.06.2023

Mehmet Ataş İdris Sarısoy

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal the solar energy potential from renewable energy sources
in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Due to the negative effects of fossil energy
sources on the environment and the risk of energy supply security for foreign-dependent
countries, the increase in renewable energy production continues day by day. There are
significant investments in this regard in MENA countries, which has one of the most important
regions of the world in terms of solar energy potential. Solar energy investments
have the potential to create an extremely important alternative to fossil energy sources,
which are stated to be depleted after a certain period. As a result of the evaluations, it is
seen that the solar energy potential of the MENA region is higher than the world average,
and the country with the highest solar energy potential is Egypt, and the country with the
lowest potential is Lebanon.

Keywords

Solar Energy Potential, Renewable Energy, MENA

MENA Bölgesi Güneş Enerji Potansiyeli

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, fosil enerji kaynakları çevreyi olumsuz etkileri ve dışa bağımlı ülkeler
için enerji arz güvenliği riski nedeniyle her geçen gün yenilebilir enerji üretiminin artmasına
bağlı olarak Orta Doğu ve Kuzey Afrika (MENA) ülkelerindeki yenilenebilir enerji
kaynaklarından güneş enerji potansiyelinin ortaya konmasıdır. Güneş enerji potansiyeli
bakımından dünyanın en önemli bölgelerinden biri olan MENA ülkelerinde bu konuda
kayda değer yatırımlar vardır. Güneş enerjisi yatırımları, belli bir dönem sonra tükeneceği
belirtilen fosil enerji kaynakları için son derece önemeli bir alternatif oluşturma potansiyeli
taşımaktadır. Yapılan değerlendirmeler sonucunda MENA bölgesi güneş enerji potansiyelinin
dünya ortalamasından yüksek olduğunun yanı sıra en yüksek güneş enerjisi
potansiyeline sahip ülkenin Mısır, en düşük potansiyele sahip ülkenin ise Lübnan olduğu
görülmektedir.

Keywords

Güneş Enerji Potansiyeli, Yenilenebilir Enerji, MENA

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, Marmara Üniversitesi Ortadoğu ve İslam Ülkeleri Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Orta Doğu Ekonomi Politiği Anabilim Dalı Doktora Programında devam eden “MENA Ülkelerindeki Güneş Enerji Yatırımlarının Finansman Maliyetlerinin Farklı Finansman Modellerine Göre Analizi başlıklı doktora tez çalışmasından yararlanılarak üretilmiştir.

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