## 5 Solar and Wind Power Generation  
Despite the substantial solar and wind energy resources available in the GCC region, the use of those resources is extremely low. Based on the data from a 2019 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report, the total electrical power generated from renewable energy (solar and wind energy) represents only 0.6% of total energy generation in the GCC [25,110]. Power consumption in the GCC has grown at an average annual rate of 8%, higher than any region globally [111]. To meet that demand, the GCC countries will need to add 100 gigawatts (GW) of installed power generation capacity in the future [111]. [PERSON] et al. [110] reported that the GCC region has a potential wind power generation of 5230 megawatts (MW), assuming power generation under conditions of low to average wind speed. Potential power generation from solar power is 15,550 MW, 96.7% of the total renewable energy generation in the GCC.  
However, these estimates may be low because of the abundant wind and solar resources in the region. Recently, the GCC countries recognized the significance of renewable energy in their power generation systems. Critical factors contributing to the need for renewable alternatives include the need for economic diversity, continued urban expansion, the increasing growth in the rate of power consumption, the continued decline in solar and wind energy costs, and the need to reduce the region's carbon footprint. Recently, GCC countries announced plans for solar and wind energy development through 2030. The plans call for an installed solar generating capacity of 65,490 MW and 5230 MW of wind generating energy. The plan's objectives are summarized in Table 4 [25,112,113]. In addition, all the GCC countries have specifically focused on solar energy as a comprehensive solution for all the energy issues due to significantly high annual rates of solar radiation in the region [48]. Figures 9 and 10 show the current energy generation from solar and wind energy in the GCC region for 2010-2019. In addition, Figures 11 and 12 show the development of the installed capacity for solar and wind energy in the GCC region for the period of 2010-2019 [114]. Based on Figures 9-12, the region had 146 GW as its total power installed capacity in 2017, while solar and wind energy represented 1% of the total installed capacity at 867 MW, which is a very small percentage. In 2018, the UAE increased its share from solar and wind energy installed capacity to 68% of its total installed capacity, while Saudi Arabia accounted for 16% and Kuwait for 9%. While this growth is not substantial in terms of installed solar and wind energy capacity, it does reflect a nearly four-fold increase from 2014 and this is expected to increase at the end of 2021 due to the GCC future targets in Table 4.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Country**} & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**Solar (MW)**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Wind (MW)**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Total**} \\ \cline{2-2} \cline{5-6}  & **CSP** & **Utility PV** & & **Building Integrated PV** & \\ \hline Saudi Arabia & 9500 & 10,500 & 750 & 3500 & 24,250 \\ Oman & 770 & 2420 & 990 & 1210 & 5390 \\ UAE & 6000 & 18,900 & 4200 & 300 & 29,400 \\ Kuwait & 1000 & 5800 & 1000 & 200 & 8000 \\ Qatar & 600 & 2250 & 150 & - & 3000 \\ Bahrain & 70 & 520 & 70 & 20 & 680 \\ GCC Total & 17,940 & 40,390 & 7160 & 5230 & 70,720 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 4: Projected installed capacity in 2030 from solar and wind energy in the GCC region [25,112,113].  
Figure 11: Power installed capacity from solar energy in GCC region, 2010–2019.  
Figure 10: Energy generation from wind energy in GCC region, 2010–2019.  
Figure 9: Energy generation from solar energy in GCC region, 2010–2019.