Composting Scenario in Qatar

By | | ,
5 Comments

The State of Qatar has one of the highest per capita waste generation rates worldwide. In 2012, Qatar generated 8,000 tons of solid waste daily (this is excluding construction and demolition waste which amounts to 20,000 tons additional waste per day).  This number is predicted to reach 19,000 tons/day in 2032, with an annual growth rate of roughly 4.2%.1  Most of these wastes end up in landfills – in 2012, more than 90% of Qatar’s solid waste were sent to landfills although the government is intensifying its efforts to reduce this amount.  This percentage is extremely high compared to many industrialized countries in Europe and Asia (e.g. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Japan) where less than 10% of solid waste are disposed of in landfills.  These countries have high recycling rates, have invested in technologies that convert waste into energy, and apply composting process to their organic waste.2 In some of these nations, as much as 40% of their wastes are composted.

What is Composting

Composting is an effective method for reducing the amount of garbage that enters landfills.  This is particularly applicable to waste streams having high organic content, which applies to most municipal solid wastes (MSW).  The process of composting is basically the breakdown of organic matter by micro and macroorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and/or earthworms in an aerobic environment.  The resulting product – compost – is rich in nutrients beneficial to plants like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, so it is mainly used as fertilizer and soil conditioner. 

The market for compost is steadily rising thanks to the effort of many governments to promote sustainable agriculture and the increasing demand for organically grown produce.  Composting, therefore, aside from keeping organic wastes from filling up landfills, can also be an excellent source of revenue.

Composting in Qatar

At present, composting in Qatar is mainly done at the Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre (DSWMC) in Mesaieed, which houses the largest composting facility in the country and one of the largest in the world.  The waste that enters the plant initially goes through anaerobic fermentation, which produces biogas that can power the facility’s gas engine and generators, followed by aerobic treatment which yields the final product. 

Two types of compost are generated: Grade A (compost that comes from green waste, such as yard/park trimmings, leftovers from kitchen or catering services, and wastes from markets) and Grade B (compost produced from MSW).  The plant started its operation in 2011 and when run at full capacity is able to process 750 tons of waste and produce 52 tons of Grade A compost, 377 tons of Grade B compost, liquid fertilizer which is composed of 51 tons of Grade A compost and 204 tons of Grade B compost, and 129 tons of biogas.3 

This is a significant and commendable development in Qatar’s implementation of its solid waste management plan, which is to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover from waste, and to avoid disposing in landfills as much as possible.  However, the large influx of workers to Qatar in the coming years as the country prepares to host the World Cup in 2022 is expected to substantially increase solid waste generation and apart from its investments in facilities like the composting plant and in DSWMC in general, the government may have to tap into the efforts of organizations and communities to implement its waste management strategy.

Silver Lining

Thankfully, several organizations recognize the importance of composting in waste management and are raising awareness on its benefits.  Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) has been actively promoting composting through its Solid Waste Interest Group.  Last year, they were one of the implementers of the Baytna project, the first Passivhaus experiment in the country.  This project entails the construction of an energy-efficient villa and a comparative study will be performed as to how the carbon footprint of this structure would compare to a conventional villa.  The occupants of the Passivhaus villa will also be made to implement a sustainable waste management system which includes composting of food and garden waste, which is meant to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfilling.

Qatar Foundation is also currently developing an integrated waste management system for the entire Education City and the Food Services group is pushing for composting to be included as a method to treat food and other organic waste.  And many may not know this but composting can be and has been done by individuals in their own backyard and can even be done indoors with the right equipment.  Katrin Scholz-Barth, previous president of SustainableQatar, a volunteer-based organization that fosters sustainable culture through awareness, skills and knowledge, is an advocate of composting and has some great resources on how to start and maintain your own composting bin as she has been doing it herself.  A simple internet search will also reveal that producing compost at home is a relatively simple process that can be achieved with minimal tools.  At present, very few families in Qatar are producing their own compost and Scholz-Barth believes there is much room for improvement.

As part of its solid waste management plan as stated in the National Development Strategy for 2011-2016, Qatar aims to maintain domestic waste generation at 1.6 kg per capita per day.  This will probably involve encouraging greater recycling and reuse efforts and the reduction of waste from its source.  It would also be worthwhile to include programs that will promote and boost composting efforts among institutions, organizations and individuals, encouraging them with the fact that apart from its capability of significant waste diversion from landfills, composting can also be an attractive source of income.

References

  1. Qatar Development Bank (2013). “Qatar Solid Waste Management Phase 1 Assessment”.  Presentation during the Environment Statistics 2013 Workshop organized by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics
  2. Hoornweg, D. and Bhada-Tata, P. (2012). “What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management”. USA: World Bank
  3. “World’s Largest Composting Plant in Mesaieed”. Gulf Times 23 February 2012. Accessed 27 February 2014. http://goo.gl/xcLtXa

10 Easy Editing Tips for Your Perfect Essay

By | |
1 Comment

Starting an essay may be difficult but the real agony lies in finishing. Most students assume that the complexities of essay writing lie in figuring out the topic, creating a good thesis, presenting the facts and supporting your arguments. Well, this could not be further from the truth!

Granted, this part of the work requires a lot of effort and skill. However, the secret to writing a perfect essay lies in your editing skills. Editing requires more than the usual spell-check. Spell-checkers may fail to pick up a few errors that the human eye would. All the facts and statistics in the world would mean nothing if your final draft is boring or confusing to the reader.

Why it is important to edit your paper

Editing helps students to unmask problems with their writing that could affect their grades or future writing assignments. Editing goes beyond tweaking the finishing touches; it points you to flaws in your arguments or ideas.

Students often use professional essay writing services like https://www.customwritings.com which guarantee that highly qualified academic writers will edit their papers to perfection.

How to Edit Your Essay

However, there are a few steps you can follow if you would like to edit your essay on your own. Here is our ultimate guide to perfecting an essay:

1. Take a break

It may be tempting to do all the work in one sitting but sometimes it is better to take a little break from your work and refresh your mind. Once you are done writing your first draft, get away from your computer and find a temporary distraction. A few minutes should be enough.

2. Read your essay out loud

It is easy to overlook some errors while writing because your mind is focused on finishing the paper. You may overlook these mistakes yet again while going through your essay silently. Read your essay aloud before you start editing so that you can get a feel of how it sounds. Be alert as you read. If anything sounds odd, note it. If anything sounds wrong, it is probably very wrong.

3. Start with the easy part

Check that you have adhered to all the formatting instructions. You may use editing software to fix any errors in formatting and punctuation. Your readers will thank you!

4. Check the structure of your essay

A perfect paper is coherent and has a clear structure. The sentences and paragraphs should also flow seamlessly from one to the next. The standard essay format includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Each part of the essay has its purpose:

Introduction: Ensure your essay has an exciting introductory paragraph that is worthy of your reader’s attention. This paragraph should clearly highlight what you intend to talk about in your essay.

Thesis statement: Check that your essay has a clear well-drafted thesis statement that outlines the purpose of your essay. It is good practice to have your thesis statement as the first sentence of your second paragraph.

Body: A well-structured body covers all the relevant points relevant to your thesis statement. Remember, the goal is to prove your thesis correct.

Strong conclusion: Ensure your conclusion appropriately summarizes your entire writing. A strong conclusion is one that recaps all the strong points discussed in the main body of the paper. If you require the reader to take any further action, this is where you state it.

5. Get rid of unnecessary words and phrases

Some words and phrases take up space in your essay without adding any value to your paper; get rid of them. Loose and dull sentences are a great way to lose the interest of your readers; get rid of them too. Every word, phrase or sentence should add meaning. If you find phrases such as “in my own personal opinion” in your work, do something about them. Use words that make you appear authoritative to your readers. Replace words like “says” with words like “argues”, “suggests” or “claims”.

6. Stick to what you understand

Many students find themselves using big words and phrases in an effort to appear sophisticated. The danger in doing this is that you may end up being ambiguous or completely off-topic. Use specific words and phrases as these will add the most value to your essay.

Resist the urge to try and appear smart by using unnecessary jargon. The average reader (especially your professor) is not likely to be impressed by puffed-up prose. People will be discouraged from reading your essay if it sounds too pompous. Besides, you do not want your reader to question your authority.

7. Get your facts straight

Check that any facts, figures or statistics used in your paper are accurate and well cited.

8. Let it go

Many people get tempted to sneak in their favorite words and phrases into their work just because they like how they sound. Do not rewrite a sentence or paragraph just so you can use your favorite phrase. Be ruthless to your most dazzling sentences as they will only point the reader to your novice.

9. Check again

Once you are done editing, go through your paper again. It is unlikely that you will miss anything if you follow our guide step-by-step but do this regardless.

10. Get a second opinion

Finally, have a friend or relative go through your paper. They may notice something you overlooked and point you to it. Be careful not to seek help from a classmate who may copy your work.

Paper Writing Guide For College Students: How To Write Like A Pro

By | |
Leave a comment

How do you write the perfect paper that gets you the grades you want? Whether it’s an essay, thesis, or dissertation, if you want to write like a pro (and get the grades to prove it), you need to learn how to create the perfect paper. Here are some guidelines for how to write your next paper:

how to write like a pro

Research Beforehand

Whether you’re writing a paper on Annette Funicello or objectivism, take some time before you start your research to read through and plan out your paper. This will give you more structure, which will make writing your essay easier and quicker. If necessary, come up with an outline, drawing from class materials. Organizing your thoughts beforehand will also help ensure that you hit all of your major points before closing out each section. You don’t want any big ideas left hanging at the end!

Formal Research

Most academic writing falls into one of two categories. Informal research includes things like email, memos, journals, and class notes. Formal research uses more formal formats such as term papers, lab reports, presentations, and even dissertations.  In general, formal research requires that you follow specific guidelines (such as APA or MLA style) when citing sources and formatting citations. To do well in school, you’ll need to know how to do both types of research. Click this link if you want to know how to write a paper on environment protection.

Informal Research

Do you need more than a simple definition for your paper? If so, take time to conduct informal research. This can be in person or online, but try and find real-world examples of things you’re trying to define. In other words, don’t look up what an en dash is (or any other form of punctuation) on Wikipedia—that should be covered in class or during assigned readings! Instead, look at how it’s used by different sources.

Write Multiple Drafts

One of my favorite pieces of advice I received was to write multiple drafts. When I asked what that meant, my professor explained that when writing an essay or research paper, you should write multiple drafts. The first draft is usually pretty bad, but it helps you figure out what your thesis is and how you want to present your ideas. If done well, revising becomes much easier as you learn which parts of your paper need attention.

By drafting your paper, you can focus on individual sections rather than having to rewrite large portions at once. Also remember to edit carefully; most people don’t proofread their work enough. Editing yourself and getting feedback from others will ensure that everything in your paper flows together nicely.

Review and Edit

When you’re ready to present your paper, ask your teacher or professor if they would be willing to review and edit it before you submit it. Your writing is sure to improve with their feedback, and they may even be able to offer further insight into how you can better support your argument.

online paper writer

If you’re given extra time at all during class time or office hours, utilize that opportunity as well! It could provide an additional resource of input on how best to improve your paper. And, who knows? They might even let you know about any grammatical errors right away—saving you some last-minute anxiety. Plus, if they don’t have time to review your work right away, you can always send them a copy once it’s completed.

The important thing is that when you are submitting something (especially something long), make sure someone else looks over it first. And never forget to proofread or hand over to an essay writer to help you!

Keep It Fresh Over Time

To keep your papers interesting over time, consider cross-linking them with each other. This will create a logical flow of information throughout your paper that’s engaging and easy to follow. If you mention something in one paper, it can show up again in another in subtle ways that give readers little rewards along their reading journey. Cross-linking can be done subtly—and if done well, readers won’t even realize it’s happening.

Recommended Reading: Apps to Resolve Mental Health Issues in College Students

Top 10 Innovations in Green Structural Engineering You Should Know

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Modern cities need buildings that stand tall without pushing the planet down. Green structural engineering responds with fresh ideas that trim carbon, save energy, and hold their own against storms and quakes. Below are ten breakthroughs reshaping blueprints today. Each section explains the idea in plain language, highlights its benefits, and shows how designers already use it in real projects.

green structural engineering

1. Carbon-Negative Concrete

Concrete frames the world’s homes, bridges, and tunnels, but regular cement production releases massive carbon. New carbon-negative mixes flip the story. Plant minerals, captured CO₂, and even seawater waste become part of the binder. When the mix hardens, it locks away more carbon than it takes to produce. Crews pour it the same way they pour normal concrete, so they do not need new tools or skills.

Key wins

  • Cuts net greenhouse gases below zero.
  • Matches or beats standard strength and cure time.
  • Works for slabs, columns, and pavement today.

2. Mass Timber High-Rises

Engineered wood is no longer just for cabins. Cross-laminated and glue-laminated panels let builders stack as high as 18 stories—and research aims higher. Trees absorb carbon while they grow, so the structure stores that carbon for decades. Prefabricated panels arrive at the site ready to bolt together, lowering noise and waste.

Why it matters

  • Stores carbon instead of emitting it.
  • Speeds construction and cuts traffic disruptions.
  • Creates warm, natural interiors people love.

3. Self-Healing Concrete

Tiny dormant bacteria mixed into concrete sleep until a crack lets in water. Then they wake up, consume a food source in the mix, and produce limestone that seals the gap. Bridge decks, parking garages, and sea walls last longer with fewer repairs.

Benefits

  • Lengthens service life by years.
  • Reduces maintenance budgets.
  • Prevents water and salt from corroding steel rebar.

4. Recycled and Hydrogen-Made Steel

Steel will always anchor stadiums and towers, but how it is made is changing fast. Electric arc furnaces melt scrap with renewable power. New direct-reduced iron plants use green hydrogen instead of coal, slashing emissions. The finished steel meets familiar strength specs, so engineers can swap it in without redesign.

Upsides

  • Reuses waste metal that would otherwise rust in landfills.
  • Shrinks the carbon footprint per beam by up to 90 percent.
  • Keeps projects eligible for green funding and credits.

5. Building-Integrated Solar Skins

Instead of bolting solar panels on roofs, architects now weave photovoltaic cells right into glass, metal cladding, and even shade fins. A skyscraper wrapped in this “solar skin” turns its whole envelope into a silent power plant. The building supplies elevators, lighting, and cooling with its own harvest.

Highlights

  • Generates power without taking extra land.
  • Looks sleek—panels can match the color and shape of the façade.
  • Pays for itself faster as panel prices keep falling.

6. Kinetic-Energy Floors

Walking crowds waste energy with every step. Special floor tiles capture that motion. A slight flex spins small generators inside the tile and produces electricity for lights, sensors, or phone chargers. Airports, train stations, and amusement parks have begun lining busy corridors with these tiles.

Perks

  • Creates visible, hands-on sustainability the public can feel.
  • Produces clean power where grid access is tricky.
  • Works indoors or outdoors, rain or shine.

7. Bio-Bricks Grown, Not Fired

Traditional clay brick kilns burn hot and expel carbon. Bio-bricks skip the furnace. Workers mix sand, waste nutrients, and fast-growing bacteria in a mold. The microbes produce a natural cement that binds the grains. The brick cures at room temperature and keeps absorbing CO₂ over its life.

Advantages

  • Needs far less energy than firing clay.
  • Uses local waste streams as raw material.
  • Offers similar strength and better insulation.

8. Digital Twins and AI Design Loops

A digital twin is a live, detailed 3-D copy of a structure, fed by sensors in the real building. Engineers test storms, quakes, and energy upgrades on the twin before touching the actual frame. AI tools scan thousands of options and recommend shapes and materials that shave tons of carbon while meeting safety codes.

Why adopt

  • Cuts design time and change orders.
  • Spots weak points early, lowering risk.
  • Share clear visuals with owners and city officials.

9. Modular Off-Site Fabrication

Think giant Lego blocks for grown-up buildings. Walls, bathrooms, and even whole hotel rooms are built in a factory, then shipped and stacked on a steel or concrete spine. Controlled shop conditions reduce scrap, and the crew installs modules in days instead of months.

Gains

  • Slashes on-site noise, dust, and traffic jams.
  • Lets teams work in parallel—foundation on site, modules in plant.
  • Eases future disassembly and reuse.

living wall design

10. Living Roofs and Walls as Structural Systems

Green roofs once served as garden toppings. Today they double as working parts of the structure. Layered soils soak up stormwater, easing load on city drains. Root mats shield waterproofing from sun and puncture. In hot climates, thick vines on a façade act as a breathable shade screen and drop interior temperatures.

Payoffs

  • Adds habitat for birds and pollinators.
  • Extends roof membrane life by blocking ultraviolet rays.
  • Lowers summer cooling bills up to 30 percent.

Putting Innovations to Work

Every project is unique, yet all share a simple rule: the earlier you fold sustainability into the plan, the cheaper and smoother it goes. Start with a carbon budget alongside your cost budget. Pick two or three of the ideas above that fit your site and market, then model them with a digital twin. Adjust spans, loads, and schedules until the design meets both performance and pocketbook.

For local insight, talk with a trusted civil engineering company Atlanta developers rely on; many already pilot these methods and can share cost data from the field.

Closing Thoughts

Sustainable structural engineering is more than a trend; it is the new baseline. Carbon-negative concrete, timber towers, solar skins, and living walls prove that strength and sustainability now walk hand in hand. By blending smart materials with smart data, we can raise structures that stand firm for generations while giving the planet room to breathe. Adopt these innovations today, and your next project will not just meet code—it will set the code that future builders follow.

The Race to 75 GW: MENA’s Ambitious Solar Targets and What They Mean for Global Energy

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nations have set an ambitious renewable energy target — they want to triple green power capacity by 2030. The projects would be an inspiring and groundbreaking revolution for the region’s capacity. It could be the first of many similar initiatives worldwide, even in your hometowns.

solar project in mena

The Scope of Solar’s Impact on MENA Nations

MENA had  53 gigawatts of renewable energy potential in 2023 and a goal of 150 GW by the turn of the decade. Around 75 GW will be solar photovoltaic, with Saudi Arabia investing over 40% of the total expansion. Its Al Shuaiba 2 project is underway and will produce 2 gigawatts. 

Wind and hydrogen will be the supplementary assets. Other major players include Oman, Iraq, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. 

Stakeholders noticed how much solar exposure these geographies have, leveraging the most lucrative clean electricity generator possible. The project has a high chance of succeeding because the countries leaned into what is most bioavailable to them — the sun. 

It is one of many reasons why project bids are so competitive in these areas. The countries also have tons of land to capitalize on for solar initiatives. Some national leaders are investing upward of $45 billion to make the clean energy transition a reality for the MENA region.

The Smart Localization Efforts

Countries like Jordan have lower renewable capacity, but they still need to reach a target to contribute to MENA’s holistic goal. It has 2.6 GW and only needs to reach 3.2 GW to fulfill its obligation. Other nations have loftier benchmarks, but manufacturing accessibility has informed the energy transition’s plans.

Governments and collaborators must establish manufacturing and production in each region, like in Jordan. This is how everyone can contribute to the cause based on the scale of their facilities. MENA wants makers to build and assemble components on home soil, letting them be in charge of gradually deploying more technologies. 

The nations with the most monumental infrastructure can promise impressive numbers. At the same time, countries with less output can still make as much of a difference in the context of how much manufacturing infrastructure they have.

The Takeaways for the Rest of the World

Nations aspiring to these levels of renewable expansion can apply MENA’s strategy. These are the most valuable takeaways you can learn from their commitment to clean power.

Use What is Available

MENA knows its geography makes it a prime solar generator, which is why most of its investments are in panels. Other countries must evaluate their natural resources, such as China’s accessibility to offshore wind or Iceland’s immense geothermal power from volcanoes. If officials and corporations in your area chose accessible generators, the planet could reach 90% renewable energy by 2050.

Solar may be the answer for some places but not others, so copying the renewable energy strategy and applying it to every other nation is a flawed technique. It has to be curated for the most accessible resources while supplementing it with other well-funded, inexpensive options.

Diversify Assets

While solar energy is the primary driver of this shift, MENA knows that other generators must accompany it. Otherwise, the project’s long-term sustainability may become impractical if widespread failures or infrastructure destruction occur. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you could expect 18% of homes to have solar by 2032, but other assets like wind and biomass will add to overall capacity.

It also opens the door for countries to experiment with up-and-coming prospects, like hydrogen, making them pioneers in what could be one of the best future renewable energy options.

Make Parts at Home

Each jurisdiction’s expectations are dependent on its manufacturing capacity. Everyone is in charge of distribution and installation. The increased agency streamlines deployment by preventing unnecessary supply chain disruptions, like shipping parts from country to country or having long lead times to move workers from one place to another. 

significance of logistics services for solar business

The objective is to make every country capable by giving it foundational resources so everyone works independently to achieve ambitious yet reasonable goals.

Overcome Supply Barriers

While MENA is trying to promote homemade parts, most of the planet — even outside of MENA — still relies on China as the leading supplier for all things solar. It harnesses so many essential materials and produces a great deal of technology. Racing to the 2030 goalpost means MENA is willing to test ways to overcome this supply chain dependence. 

Challenge Fossil Fuels

MENA has a strong fossil fuel presence. Economic factors have built it into the empire it is today, making it hard to dismantle. Introducing a competitor, like solar, that intends to eliminate the authority of fossil fuels is dangerous. It is met with much resistance from corporate and legislative stakeholders with years of interest in oil’s success. 

morocco solar plan

However, setting the 75 GW target provides accountability. It forces organizations to train workers, expand regardless of resistance and spread awareness of its benefits for MENA. It has inspired additional projects, like the Desertec concept, which joins Europe’s efforts with Africa and the Middle East to separate themselves from oil-based income. It uses scientific evidence to educate the public and investors on how lucrative desert regions are for the global transition. 

The New Solar Role Model

MENA could set the standard for internationally collaborative renewable energy projects before the next decade. Achieving the solar installations alone would be a massive achievement, and investing in additional capacity would be even more life-changing for these nations’ citizens. 

It should motivate you and your community to move forward with energy transitions, whether grid modernization or research into the newest solar thin-film trend. Every project is worth the time, leading to a more energetically balanced and sustainable world for future generations. 

Jordanian Agriculture Throughout History – Achievements and Challenges

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Throughout history, Jordanian agriculture has been one of the main pillars that contributed to the formation of the economic and social identity of the region, and Jordan is one of the first regions to witness the emergence of stable agriculture in the Neolithic era (about 10,000 – 6,000 BC). The Jordan Valley and the Ain Ghazal region witnessed early cultivation of cereals such as wheat and barley and animal husbandry such as sheep and goats. The Ammonite, Moabite and Edomite civilizations developed agriculture in the bronze and Iron Ages (3,300 – 332 BC). Where they used primitive irrigation systems and cultivated olives, figs and grapes, and agriculture at that time depended on rains.

crop cultivation in jordan

In the Nabataean period (about 169 BC.Ad-106 AD) excelled in the creation of advanced irrigation systems for the collection and storage of rainwater in semi-arid regions and the cultivation of cereals and medicinal plants, witnessed the Roman and Byzantine eras (106 – 636 AD) agriculture flourished thanks to the development of roads, infrastructure, the creation of canals and dams, the cultivation of various crops and the spread of agricultural mosaics as evidence of the importance of crops.

Agriculture continued as a major source of income during Islamic times (636 – 1516 CE) with improved irrigation methods and the construction of canals. In the Ottoman era (1516-1918 AD), taxes were imposed on agricultural crops and there was a decline in agricultural production due to neglect and lack of investments, however, agriculture continued to be a major economic activity in rural Jordan.

Despite the natural, political and economic challenges faced by the country, during the first hundred years of the establishment of the state, the agricultural sector in Jordan witnessed a significant development in successive stages that reflected the development of the Jordanian state and its transformations.at the founding stage (1921-1950), agriculture in the early Jordanian state was heavily dependent on rains, and the Jordanian farmer used traditional tools in agriculture. agricultural holdings were small and distributed among tribes and clans. production focused on cereals and cattle breeding. The State during this period worked on the regulation of land ownership through the land and water Settlement Act of 1933, and also began to encourage the creation of agricultural cooperatives in 1952.

But despite the efforts, the agricultural sector remained limited by natural, financial and human potential. In the period of construction and modernization (1950-1970), this stage witnessed an expansion of state intervention in agriculture, as the Ministry of Agriculture was established in 1953, programs were launched to improve production, expand the agricultural area and start exploiting the waters of the Jordan River to irrigate the areas of the Jordan Valley, which allowed the cultivation of new crops such as citrus fruits and vegetables and the implementation of a number of major irrigation projects, agricultural research centers were established to develop crops and farming methods, and the state began to provide technical and financial support to farmers.

As for the relative prosperity period (1970-1990), this stage was marked by a remarkable boom in the agricultural sector, as the contribution of agriculture to GDP increased and Jordanian agricultural exports to the Gulf countries and Europe increased, farmers began to use agricultural machinery, pesticides and modern fertilizers, the cultivated areas in the Jordan Valley expanded, and many projects were established, which led to the diversification of agricultural production and increasing dependence on irrigated crops. This period also witnessed the establishment of the Jordan Cooperative Foundation and a number of agricultural associations, which aimed to organize agricultural work and improve the income of farmers.

Then there was the stage of adaptation challenges (1990-2010), as Jordan entered the stage of economic reform, government subsidies for agriculture declined, and the state began to implement privatization and trade opening policies. This has affected the agricultural sector, especially in light of external competition and rising production costs, and the water crisis has intensified as a result of population growth and climate change, which led to a reduction in cultivated areas and the adoption of more efficient farming methods. However, despite these challenges, this stage witnessed the launch of many initiatives to support rural development, empower women in agriculture, and establish small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas to raise the standard of living.

As for the stage of modern agriculture and sustainability after 2010, with the escalation of environmental and economic challenges, Jordan has begun to adopt the model of smart and sustainable agriculture, through the introduction of new technologies such as protected agriculture, hydroponics, and the use of renewable energy. Farmers have also begun to shift towards organic agriculture and apply international quality standards to meet the requirements of international markets. The importance of Agriculture in national food security has increased, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of relying on local production.

sustainable agriculture in jordan valley

Despite all the development that has taken place in the agricultural sector, there are persistent challenges that Jordan still suffers from in this sector, including water scarcity, being one of the poorest countries in the world, which poses a constant challenge to agriculture, climate change, which has changed rainfall patterns and repeated droughts, and migration from the countryside to cities, which has caused a decline in agricultural labor and the continued high cost of production inputs.

His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al Hussein has stressed that agriculture plays a pivotal role in empowering local communities and combating poverty and unemployment. In his regular meetings with farmers, His Majesty emphasizes the importance of regulating the sector, ensuring the rights of farmers, and achieving marketing justice for them.

The most prominent statements of His Majesty King Abdullah II expressing his support and interest in the agriculture sector in Jordan are:

  • “agriculture has been and will remain one of our national priorities, it is a pillar of our food and economic security”,
  • “we are working to strengthen the agricultural sector to be a source of income and job opportunities for our children, especially in the countryside and Badia”,
  • “we must employ modern technology in agriculture to ensure sustainability and increase production”,
  • “attention to the Jordanian farmer is the basis for the development of the agricultural sector, and we must create an environment that enables it to succeed”,
  • “food security is an integral part of national security, and the government should develop clear policies to support agriculture”,
  • “we are committed to supporting the agricultural sector through financing, marketing and infrastructure.”

In conclusion, agriculture in Jordan is not only a profession, it is part of the cultural and cultural heritage of the country. Despite the challenges, there are still efforts to preserve and develop this sector, apart from developing it from a simple traditional model to a more modern and diversified sector. Investing in agricultural technology, efficient water management, and empowering rural communities are key to the future of Jordanian agriculture.

Eco-Friendly Waste Solutions for Sustainable Homes

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Looking for ways to manage waste sustainably at home? You’re not alone. Many struggle with reducing household waste while maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle amid growing environmental concerns. Effective solutions exist to tackle this challenge. From composting to recycling, you can transform your home into a green haven with practical steps.

For larger waste concerns, consider professional help like Same Day Rubbish Removal. They offer quick, responsible disposal services to support your sustainable goals effortlessly.

rubbish removal services Sydney

 

Defining Zero Waste Living

Ever wondered what “zero waste” truly means for your home? It’s a lifestyle aimed at minimizing waste, redirecting as much as possible from landfills through sustainable practices.

Origins of Zero Waste

Tracing back to ancient times, humans reused materials creatively. Think cavemen crafting tools from bones—early recycling at its finest, setting a precedent for today. Today, zero waste has evolved into a societal push against the linear “take-make-dispose” economy. It’s about rethinking systems to reduce environmental footprints significantly.

Certifications like ZWIA often target a 90% waste diversion rate. For households, it’s more fluid—focus on reducing what you send to landfills daily.

Applying Zero Waste at Home

Start small by evaluating your waste habits. Identify what you throw away most and seek alternatives, like composting or reusing, to cut back effectively. Ready to dive into practical ways to cut waste at home? Let’s explore simple, actionable strategies that can transform your daily habits sustainably.

Bulk Buying Benefits

Consider purchasing staples in bulk to minimize packaging. Store them in reusable containers like mason jars, saving money and reducing single-use plastic waste.

zero waste kitchen

Ditching Plastic Bottles

Swap bottled water for a reusable bottle and filter. It cuts down on plastic waste and saves resources used in producing disposable bottles yearly.

Reusable Produce Bags

Invest in cloth produce bags for grocery shopping. They’re a stylish, eco-friendly alternative to flimsy plastic ones, keeping oceans cleaner with every trip.

Supporting Local Farmers

Buy from local farmers or join a CSA. Fresher food with less packaging supports your community and slashes waste from over-wrapped supermarket produce.

Redesigning for Waste Reduction

Let’s rethink how your home handles waste. Redesigning spaces and habits can streamline diversion, making sustainability a seamless part of daily life.

Start by looking at how you organize waste. Proper source separation—dividing recyclables, organics, and trash—can drastically improve your waste management right from the start.

  • Smart Bin Technology: Use bins with sensors to monitor waste levels. They help optimize pickup schedules, reducing unnecessary trips and saving energy at home.
  • Design for Reuse: Choose products made for multiple uses. Opt for items with sustainable design, ensuring they last longer and reduce replacement needs.
  • Circular Economy Mindset: Embrace reusing materials. Repurpose old items into new uses, like turning jars into storage, keeping them out of landfills.

By adopting these innovations, you’re not just reducing waste but also contributing to a broader movement. It’s about creating a sustainable future together.

Effective Recycling and Composting

Recycling and composting are game-changers for waste reduction. Implementing these at home can significantly lower your environmental impact with minimal effort.

Begin with understanding what can be recycled in your area. Paper, plastics, and metals often have designated bins, making separation straightforward and highly effective.

  • Organic Waste Handling: Compost food scraps and yard waste. It diverts methane-producing waste from landfills, turning it into nutrient-rich soil for gardens.
  • Equipment Options: Use macerators to reduce food waste volume by 80%. They’re efficient for managing kitchen scraps before composting off-site or at home.
  • Program Engagement: Join local composting programs if available. They often provide totes for regular pickups, simplifying the process for busy households like yours.

These steps not only cut landfill contributions but also enrich your surroundings. Check out more on composting basics at EPA Composting Guide.

Benefits of Material Recovery

Material recovery is about reclaiming value from waste. By recycling and repurposing, you’re saving resources and reducing the need for new production.

Resource Conservation

Recovering materials like glass and aluminum saves energy. It takes far less to recycle than to produce new items from raw resources consistently.

Reducing Landfill Strain

Every item recovered means less in landfills. This reduces pollution and extends landfill lifespans, preserving land for future generations to utilize.

Economic Advantages

Recycling can lower disposal costs over time. Some programs even offer incentives, turning waste recovery into a small financial win for households.

Environmental Impact

Less production means fewer emissions. Material recovery cuts greenhouse gases, helping combat climate change directly from your own home’s efforts.

Embracing Ugly Produce Options

Ever passed on “ugly” fruits and veggies at the store? Embracing imperfect produce can cut food waste and save perfectly edible items from landfills.

Many supermarkets discard produce for minor blemishes, despite it being nutritious. Choosing these items supports sustainability and often comes at a discount too.

  • Reducing Food Waste: Opt for misshapen apples or carrots. They taste the same but prevent tons of food from being unnecessarily discarded yearly.
  • Supporting Farmers: Buying ugly produce helps farmers sell more of their crop. It reduces financial loss and encourages sustainable farming practices.
  • Creative Cooking: Use imperfect veggies in soups or smoothies. Their appearance won’t matter, and you’ll still enjoy all the nutritional benefits.

Next time you shop, give those quirky-looking items a chance. It’s a small step with a big impact on reducing food waste overall.

Choosing Second-Hand Clothing

Shopping second-hand for clothes isn’t just trendy—it’s eco-friendly. It cuts waste and challenges the fast fashion industry’s harmful environmental impact significantly.

Fast fashion consumes massive resources and fills landfills with discarded trends. By opting for pre-loved garments, you’re directly reducing this unsustainable cycle effectively.

  • Extending Garment Life: Buying second-hand gives clothes another chapter. It saves water and energy that would’ve been used for new production.
  • Reducing Landfill Waste: Each purchase keeps textiles out of dumps. It’s a direct way to lessen the millions of tons discarded annually.
  • Ethical Consumption: You’re stepping away from exploitative labor practices. Second-hand shifts focus to mindful buying over mass-produced, unethical fast fashion.

Explore thrift stores or platforms like ThredUp to start. Learn more about this trend at Fibre2Fashion.

Setting Up Home Composting

Composting at home is easier than you might think. It transforms food scraps and yard waste into rich soil, cutting landfill contributions drastically.

Choosing a Composting Spot

Select a dry, shady area in your yard for a compost bin. Accessibility matters, so keep it near your kitchen for easy scrap disposal.

Balancing Materials

Mix green materials like veggie peels with browns like leaves. A balanced pile decomposes faster, avoiding odors and attracting fewer pests naturally.

Maintenance Tips

Turn your compost weekly to aerate it. Keep it moist, not soggy, to speed up decomposition and ensure a healthy, odor-free process.

Using Finished Compost

Once decomposed, spread compost in your garden. It enriches soil, reduces chemical fertilizer needs, and boosts plant growth sustainably over time.

food waste disposal

Adopting Reusable Household Items

Switching to reusable items in your home cuts waste instantly. From kitchen to bathroom, small swaps can make a huge environmental difference effortlessly.

Kitchen Reusables

Replace paper towels with cloth napkins. They’re washable, cost-effective over time, and reduce the waste from disposable products piling up in landfills.

Beverage Solutions

Use stainless steel straws instead of plastic ones. They’re durable, easy to clean, and prevent microplastics from harming oceans with every sip taken.

Shopping Essentials

Carry reusable tote bags for groceries. They’re stronger than plastic, hold more, and eliminate the need for countless single-use bags each year.

Personal Care Swaps

Try bamboo toothbrushes or menstrual cups. These alternatives last longer, reduce plastic waste, and support a cleaner, greener lifestyle every day.

Shape Your Green Future

Start transforming your home into a sustainable haven today. Embrace zero waste practices and reduce your environmental footprint. For help with excess clutter, explore deceased estate rubbish removal in Sydney. Your choices matter—build a cleaner, greener lifestyle now!

The Case for Renewables-Powered Desalination in MENA

By | | , ,
16 Comments

Desalination is a water treatment process that separates salts from saline water to produce potable water. The desalination process uses large amount of energy to produce pure water from saltwater source, such as seawater. Saltwater is fed into the process, and the result is an output stream of pure water and another stream of waster with high salt concentration.

desalination plant in uae

Desalination techniques are mainly classified into two types:

  • Processes based on physical change in the state of the water, and
  • Processes using a membrane that employ the concept of filtration.

There are more than 20,000 industrial-scale desalination units worldwide, with combined capacity exceeding 95 million cubic meters of water per day. The market leader is the membrane desalination process with around 44 percent of total capacity, followed closely by the thermal process of multi-stage flash (MSF) with about 40 percent market share. The main sources of feed water for desalination are seawater (58 percent), brackish ground water (23 percent), and other sources such as rivers and small salt lakes.

Water Problems in MENA and Desalination

Access to clean drinking water is one of the major health issues today. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the most water scarce region of the world. High population growth rate, urbanization and industrialization, coupled with limited availability of natural potable water resources are leading to serious deficits of freshwater in many parts of MENA. Freshwater sources in the MENA region are being continuously over-exploited and increased use of desalted seawater is unavoidable in order to maintain a reasonable level of water supply.

Conventional large-scale desalination is cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive, and not viable for poor countries in the MENA region due to increasing costs of fossil fuels. In addition, the environmental impacts of desalination are considered critical on account of emissions from energy consumption and discharge of brine into the sea. Brine has extremely high salt concentration and also contains leftover chemicals and metals from the treatment process which poses danger to marine life.

seawater desalination

The negative effects of desalination can be minimized, to some extent, by using renewable energy to power the plants. Renewable energy-powered desalination offers a sustainable method to increase supply of potable water in MENA countries. The region has tremendous wind and solar energy potential which can be effectively utilized in desalination processes like reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and ultrafiltration and nanofiltration. The cost of renewable energy desalination is expected to become more attractive with technological advancements and coupled with rising costs of freshwater and fossil fuels.

Solar-Powered Desalination for MENA

Solar energy can be directly or indirectly used in the desalination process. Collection systems that use solar energy to produce distillate directly in the solar collector are called direct collection systems while systems that combine solar energy collection systems with conventional desalination systems are called indirect systems.

The major drawbacks with the use of solar thermal energy in large-scale desalination plants are low productivity rate, low thermal efficiency and large area requirement. Solar thermal-based desalination plants are more suitable for small-scale production especially in remote arid areas and islands having scarce conventional energy resources.

solar-powered desalination

CSP plants can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants

Concentrated solar power (CSP) offers an attractive option to power industrial-scale desalination plants that require both high temperature fluids and electricity.  CSP can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants based on thermal or membrane processes. Infact, several countries in the region, such as Morocco, have already established large CSP-based solar power projects that promises to usher in a new era in the Middle East.

The MENA region has tremendous solar energy potential that can facilitate the generation of energy required to offset the alarming freshwater deficit. The region would be facing a grave water crisis with the population expected to be double by 2050. Renewables-powered desalination combined with efficient use of water reserves and reuse of wastewater can help in easing the water crisis in the region. It will also help in reducing the financial load on MENA governments from power and water sectors, and thus diverting funds to much-needed educational, health and industrial sectors.

الطاقة المتجددة عالميا والعربية

By | | , ,
8 Comments

كثيرا ما نسمع عن انجازات غربية كتشغيل إحدى المدن على الطاقة المتجددة لمدة يوم كامل. كما نسمع عن قيام دول آسيوية كالهند والصين بإنجاز مشاريع ضخمة لتوليد الكهرباء من الطاقة الشمسية. علما ان هذان البلدان أقاما ثورتهما الصناعية على الوقود الأحفوري وانهما سابقا حاولوا الترويج لفوائد الوقود الأحفوري،  وان هذا التغير من الممكن ان يسبب نزاعات جيوسياسية بين البلدين.

إن الطاقة المتجددة هي مصدر نظيف للطاقة يتم فيها استعمال الموارد الطبيعية من مياه ورياح  وأشعة شمسية لتوليد الطاقة. هي مقارنة بغيرها من مصادر الوقود الأحفوري تعتبر الأقل تلويثا للبيئة ،الأوفر اقتصاديا على المدى الطويل. ان استخدام هذه المصادر جذب العديد من الدول الصناعية اليابان وألمانيا. وقد أطلقت ألمانيا سابقا مبادرة للنتقال الى الاعتماد على الطاقة المتجددة بالكامل وبأسعار تنافسية بحلول 2050 العام وبتكلفة نحو 550 مليار يورو.

أين نحن كعرب من هذا السوق؟ وهل نستطيع مواكبة العصر و تحويل اقتصادنا القائم على الوقود الأحفوري إلى اقتصاد منخفض الكربون. وهل نستطيع مواكبة العصر والتأقلم مع المتغيرات العالمية الجديدة؟ هل تستطيع الطاقة المتجددة تعزيز أمننا المائي المهدد؟

أعلنت المملكة العربية السعودية مؤخرا في في القمة العالمية لطاقة المستقبل  في أبوظبي إن بصدد إنجاز  مشروع يمزج الطاقة الحرارية الجوفية والطاقة الشمسية وطاقة الرياح لتوفير 3.45 جيجا واط كهرباء من الطاقة المتجددة بحلول 2020  و 9,5 جيجا واط في حلول  عام 2023.

والحديث أن اقتصاد دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي سينهار إذا ما اعتمدنا على الطاقة المتجددة، فإن رؤية ٢٠٣٠ اوضحت ان الطاقة المتجددة يمكن أن توفر لهذه الدول حوالي ٨٧  مليار دولار أمريكي مع تخفيض واحد جيغاتون من انبعاثات الكربون لديها.

من المؤسف أن بعض بلداننا العربية تعاني من الحروب مما يمنع حضورها مؤتمرات الأطراف لتغير المناخ ومن التخطيط لاستخدام الطاقات المتجددة.

نتطلع خيرا الى اعتماد بلداننا العربية على الطاقة المتجددة لما ما بإمكانه توفير فرص عمل وتخفيض الانبعاثات ومواكبة التطور البيئي وتحسين الاقتصاد.

Reasons Why Camping is Bad for the Environment

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Camping is the reserve of the eco-conscious among us. Instead of booking into hotels which use a huge amount of electricity, we head to campsites when we go away. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that sleeping under the stars is better for the environment.

But, it would be naive to assume camping is without worry altogether. In truth, this issue stands to do a fair amount of damage to our environment as well. What’s worse, fewer people realize it. Hence why we’re going to take a closer look at the dark environmental side of camping:

camping in the wild

1. A load of rubbish

Perhaps the main issue is that of rubbish disposal. You’re going to produce rubbish during your stay. Most food has plastic wrappers. And, there’s every chance you’ll take a few plastic drinking bottles along, too. This can all do considerable environmental damage if you leave it behind.

Yet, an astonishing amount of campers do just that. Sadly, this can result in harm to wildlife on the ground and in the water. Yet, the solution is simple. All you need to do is take some large plastic bags and make sure to focus on waste collection before you leave. Check and double check that you aren’t leaving any nasty surprises!

2. The menace of campfires

We may not realize it, but sleeping under the stars releases a fair few gaseous emissions of its own. While less than those of hotels, these are still worth attention. For one, your campfire can do a fair amount of damage. Fires release toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Many of us also take along gas fuelled stoves, or electricity generators to keep us going. Both of which burn fossil fuels.

So, do what you can to reduce damage, here. Aim to minimize fires in the campsite. If someone has a fire nearby, ask to sit with them instead of making your own. It’s also worth investing in something like a portable inverter generator. These make use of your car’s fuel, instead of burning from a separate source.

What’s more, this option covers everything, from cooking, to fuelling heaters. Bear in mind though that you should still keep use to a minimum.

3. Damage to the natural environments

You also stand to damage natural environments. This is especially a risk with green camping outside of a predetermined site. You don’t know what animals you’re disturbing when you set up. It could even be that your tent is on top of a nest.

Camping can be detrimental to fragile ecologies. Even being in proximity to a creature’s home could lead it to flee from the nest, and possibly leave babies behind. Without even knowing it, you could do untold damage to wildlife.

What’s more, there’s no real way to avoid this, other than to stay in campsites you know to be safe. If you do desire an ecological camping experience, make sure to do a thorough and non-invasive check before you get set up.

Renewable Energy in Morocco: Potential and Progress

By | | ,
6 Comments

Morocco, being one of the largest energy importers in MENA, is making concerted efforts to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Renewable energy is an attractive proposition as Morocco has almost complete dependence on imported energy carriers. In 2022, Morocco spent around US$13.5 billion on all energy imports (crude oil and oil products, coal, natural gas and electricity). Annual electricity consumption in Morocco was 38 TWh in 2022, and is steadily increasing at a rate of around 7 percent each year.

morocco solar plan

The major sources of renewable energy in Morocco are solar and wind power. Wind energy potential is excellent in vast parts in the northern and southern regions, with the annual average wind speed exceeding 9 m/s at 40 meters elevation. As far as solar is concerned, the country experiences 3000 hours per year of annual sunshine equivalent to 5.3 kWh/m²/day. In Morocco, the total installed renewable energy capacity (including hydropower) was approximately 1,431 MW in 2022.

The Moroccan Government has set up an ambitious target of meeting 52% of its energy requirements using renewable resources by 2030. Morocco is investing heavily in developing its renewable energy sector, which will reduce its dependence on imported energy carriers to a great extent.

Morocco Solar Energy Program

Morocco has launched one of the world’s largest and most ambitious solar energy plan with investment of more than USD 9billion. The Moroccan Solar Plan is regarded as a milestone on the country’s path towards a secure and sustainable energy supply which is clean, green and affordable.

The project is on track to generate 3 GW of solar power by the year 2028 through mega-scale solar power projects at five locations — Laayoune (Sahara), Boujdour (Western Sahara), Tarfaya (south of Agadir), Ain Beni Mathar (center) and Ouarzazate — with modern solar thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated solar power mechanisms. Morocco, the only African country to have a power cable link to Europe, is also a key player in Mediterranean Solar Plan.

The 500MW Solar Power Complex at Ouarzazate, is the world’s largest solar power plant. It has been built with an investment of around USD 9 billion. The Ouarzazate Solar Complex, also known as Noor CSP having a total capacity of 580 MW has an estimated output of 1.2 TWh/year which is meeting the energy demands of more than 1 million population.

The first phase of Ouarzazate solar project, known as Noor 1 CSP, involved the construction of a 160 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant which was switched on in February 2016. Around $3.9bn has been invested in the Ouarzazate solar complex, including $1bn from the German investment bank KfW, $596m from the European Investment Bank and $400m from the World Bank.

The Ain Beni Mather Integrated Solar Thermal Combined Cycle Power Station, commissioned in 2011, is one of the most promising solar power projects in Africa.  The plant combines solar power and thermal power, and has the production capacity of 472 MWe. The total cost of the project was US$544 million including US$43.2 million in grant financing from the GEF, two loans from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a total of US$371.8 million and a loan of US$ 129 million from Spain’s Instituto de Credito Official (ICO).

In 2010, the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN), a public-private venture, was set up specifically to implement these projects.  Its mandate is to implement the overall project and to coordinate and to supervise other activities related to this initiative. Stakeholders of the Agency include the Hassan II Fund For Economic & Social Development, Energetic Investment Company and the Office National de l’Electricité (ONE). The Solar Plan is backed by Germany, with funding being provided by German Environment Ministry (BMU) and KfW Entwicklungsbank while GIZ is engaged in skills and capacity-building for industry.

Morocco Wind Energy Program

Morocco has a huge wind energy potential due to it 3,500 km coast line and average wind speeds between 6 and 11 m/s. Regions near the Atlantic coast, such as Essaouira, Tangier and Tetouan (with average annual average wind speeds between 9.5 and 11 m/s at 40 metres) and Tarfaya, Laayoune, Dakhla, and Taza (with annual average wind speed between 7.5 and 9.5 m/s at 40 metres) has excellent wind power potential.

According to a study by CDER and GTZ, the total potential for wind power in Morocco is estimated at around 7,936 TWh per year, which would be equivalent to about 2,600 GW. Morocco’s total installed wind power capacity at the end of 2023 was an impressive 1.5 GW.

Windfarm_Morocco

140MW Windfarm near Tangiers in Morocco

The first wind farm in Morocco was installed in 2000 with a capacity of 50.4 MW in El Koudia El Baida (Tlat Taghramt – Province of Tetouan), situated 17km from the town of Fnidek. The annual production of the project is around 200 GWh, accounting for 1% of the national annual electricity consumption. In 2007, 60MW Amogdoul wind farm, on Cap Sim south of Essaouira, came online. This wind farm  was realized by the national utility ONE and  is producing around 210 GWh/year. Another landmark project is 140 MW at Allak, El Haoud and Beni Mejmel, near Tangier and Tetouan which was commissioned in 2010 with annual production of 526 GWh per annum.

Morocco has a strong pipeline of wind power projects to realize its  objective of 2.2 GW of wind power by 2030. Africa’s largest windfarm, at Tarfaya in Southwestern Morocco, having installed capacity of 300MW become operational in 2014. The Tarfaya windfarm, built at a cost of around $700 million has 131 turbines is meeting the power requirements of several hundred thousands people and reducing more than 900,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

EnergiPro Initiative

Morocco’s national utility ONE is developing almost half of the planned projects while the other half is contributed by private investment through the “EnergiPro” initiative, which encourages industrial players to reduce their production costs by producing their own energy with projects up to 50 MW. As part of this initiative, ONE guarantees access to the national grid, and the purchase of any excess electricity produced at an incentive tariff, with different tariffs for each project.

Renewables Overtake Coal as the Main Energy Source in Germany

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is aiming to generate 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Additionally, Germany is currently in the process of abandoning nuclear power by 2022 and is making plans for a long-term exit from the use of coal. This change signifies progress for Europe as a whole.

renewable-energy-middle-east

According to a research from the Fraunhofer Organization of Applied Science, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and biomass energy generated 275.2 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2024 which accounted for 62.7 of total electricity generation in the country.

The share of green energy in Germany’s power production has steadily risen from 19.1 percent in 2010 to 38.2 percent in 2017 to 62.7 in 2024. Skeptics of green power say that this output reflects exceptional weather patterns in the country this year and does not prove the contribution of the sector to secure energy supplies.

Due to an extensive and hot summer, solar power increased to 59.5 TWh, an increase of 10.4 percent. Installed solar capacity increased to 100 GW in 2024 due to the deployment of 16.2 GW during the year 2024.

Wind power is the main source of energy in the country. In 2024, the wind power sector produced 133.44 TWh from offshore capacity and combined onshore capacity of 190 GW, making up 33 percent of total German power output.

The main source of energy was domestically mined brown coal power, which made up around 20 percent. Coal plants run on hard coal contributed 13.9 percent or 75.7 TWh of the total.