Conergy, one of the largest solar developers globally, is quickly expanding its presence in the Middle East and North Africa regions. Conergy’s plans include increasing the number of employees in the region, expanding its’ offerings to larger-scale rooftop projects, and building local partnerships. With high insolation levels and new renewable energy policy targets and investment interest, the Middle East and North Africa regions are poised for rapid solar growth with projections to reach a total of 15 GW and $50 billion in solar investments by 2020.
“The Middle East and Northern Africa are exciting new markets for us,” said Andrew de Pass, CEO of Conergy. “Conergy, with its 18-year track record and projects in 22 countries, brings its excellence in utility-scale solar design, construction, financing and operations to the region.”
“We have all the capabilities necessary to make a huge impact in these markets,” said Rasmus Friis, President of EMEAI for Conergy. “We’ve had early success with rooftop solar in the region over the past couple of years and are now bringing our world-class knowledge and talent in utility-scale solar development to the table. We see a bright future here.”
Over the last few years, Conergy has tested the markets with rooftop projects in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The first was a three-project portfolio, totaling 2.5 MW, in Saudi Arabia on King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) also on the top of the Capital Market Authority Tower (CMA). Conergy also completed several smaller rooftop projects, totaling 1 MW, in Kuwait.
KAUST was completed in December 2009, and with production of 3,332 MWh of clean energy and savings of 3,320 tons of carbon emissions, the installation offsets the equivalent of approximately 6,000 circumnavigations of the world by car annually.
KAFD was the first rooftop plant in Riyadh. The 330 MWh of clean energy generated each year — which powers 1,500 computers in the financial center — will prevent 180 tons of carbon emissions annually.
Having won a 50 MWp solar PPA in Egypt, as part of the renewable initiative implemented by New & Renewable Energy Agency (NREA), Conergy plans to expand its operations into North Africa. The Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) anticipates Egypt to become a multi GW market this year. Furthermore, Conergy will be participating in the upcoming tenders in Senegal, Zambia and Morocco in order to kick-start its’ activities in North Africa.
Conergy will add headcount to its Dubai office with this expansion. The office works most closely with the company’s European hub in Hamburg, Germany.
News item from Conergy