MENA+-+Energy+and+Water

While Europe produced 27.2% of global emissions in 2001, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) combined were only 13.6% [5]. For the Middle East this is largely contributed to by local power generators, of which nearly 90% are supplied by thermal power plants that burn millions of barrels of oil a year [7]. North Africa is powered similarly. The energy consumption of MENA was 785 TWh in 2000 and expected to increase to 3605 TWh by 2050 [6]. This growing energy demand will need new energy sources to provide power. Arab nations have high insolation for long periods of time, averaging 7.5 hours/day in Tunisia and 10.7 hours/day in Egypt [6]. Below is a direct insolation map helping viewers visualize the disparity between MENA deserts and southern Europe (which is generally much higher than the rest of Europe):



The above photo, taken from DLR [8], shows the MENA nations with often three times the direct insolation of southern European countries, and perhaps an ideal location for solar power plants. Large areas of these nations are unpopulated or sparsely populated due to the desert climate and lack of water.

A growing concern for MENA countries is their water supplies. Nearly 50% of Arab nations have a water availability per-capita less than the absolute water scarcity level (200,000 Liters/capita/year), while the rest (excluding Iraq) are at or below the water scarcity threshold level of 1,000,000 Liters/capita/year [6] It is assumed that within the next forty years every country in the Middle East will face dire water shortages [7]. This is a map of European renewable water supplies:

Compare this map, taken from DLR [8], with the two following (also from DLR [8]). Note North African and Middle East renewable water supplies.





Additionally, DLR did a study to look at the likely increase in demand of freshwater in MENA countries [8]:



Due to the non-renewable nature of water in these regions and its correlated scarcity, these nations have to turn to desalination to provide water for their citizens. Desalination is a very energy intensive process and, because of this, very expensive.