womanthismonth.com | JULY 2026 OPINION 95 announced construction of a 150MW solar plant in Bilaj Al Jazayer. Together, these projects form part of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, which aims to generate 20 percent of Bahrain’s electricity from renewable sources by 2035 while supporting the Kingdom’s target of reaching net zero emissions by 2060. The urgent need for Bahrain to establish local alternatives to fossil fuels for electricity generation has become clearer as the region faces recent shocks to existing infrastructure in other countries. At the same time, technological advances are making it increasingly possible to support the local provision of clean energy. Bahrain’s strategy must go beyond adding centralised power plants to its sustainable development plans. Air conditioning and cooling account for a large share of electricity demand during peak summer periods. Therefore, there is a strong case for creating a large-scale system of district cooling plants through municipalities, which could reduce cooling energy demand by nearly half compared with traditional individual units. At the same time, Bahrain must develop distributed energy more aggressively. This can be achieved by updating the Net Metering programme to maximise the use of renewable energy through solar panels on the rooftops of commercial buildings, warehouses and large residential projects. By combining limited land resources with large rooftop solar installations, Bahrain can effectively build a decentralised urban power grid across the Kingdom. The ultimate solution to the region’s energy challenges also depends on the continued development of fiscal policies and changes in consumer behaviour. These represent the other half of the solution. In the past, broad and untargeted utility subsidies prevented consumers from experiencing the true price of power, encouraging excessive use. Replacing broad energy subsidies with targeted financial assistance for low-income consumers would encourage both businesses and households to invest in more energy-efficient ways of using power. The commitment made by Bahrain’s two largest industrial companies, Alba and Bapco, to invest in solar energy and waste heat recovery shows that the Kingdom’s major economic drivers are willing to change. There is nothing more urgent than modernisation. The regional energy crisis should not be seen only as a warning about resource depletion, but as an urgent call to action. For Bahrain, modernising the economy can be achieved by using regional grid connections, turning rooftops into generating assets and optimising local efficiencies. This approach will support the long-term sustainability of Bahrain’s economy and enable the Kingdom to play a leading role in shaping a more sustainable Gulf. UNIDO Launches Industrial Incubator Initiative for Saudi Arabia UNIDO ITPO Bahrain and RM Consultancy officially launched the Industrial Incubator Initiative for Saudi Arabia during an Exchange of Letters Signing Ceremony.
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