Policy Briefs
Technologies and Innovation in the GCC Energy Sector: Differences Between the Scope and the Direction of Technological Change
No.
PB 126
Publisher
ERF
Date
January, 2024
Topic
O3. Technological Change, Research and Development, Intellectual Property Rights
Q4. Energy
Q3. Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation
In a nutshell
- GCC countries require a dual digital and energy transition, and significant progress has already been made in this regard.
- The GCC has significant alternative resources for the production of renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydrogen), and new investments, projects, and natural endowments could position it as a key player in future technological advances.
- Numerous technologies are available, and the GCC must become an active participant in determining the future technologies that will shape the energy transition.
- Three technologies are of particular interest to the region: CO2 storage and capture, batteries and rare earth elements, and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ethanol.
- Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem, establishing a collaborative regional energy technology R&D institution, and launching initiatives with key global technology players are strategies that could enable the GCC to significantly influence the “direction” of energy technologies in a way that benefits the region.
Research Fellows
Adel Ben Youssef
Professor of Economics, University Côte d'Azur