MENA’s Solar Boom Fuels Record Growth in Energy Storage by 2060
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is set for a massive expansion in solar power and extra space storage. By 2040, an additional 860GW of solar PV capacity will be installed, with further growth expected beyond that. This surge in renewable energy is driving a sharp rise in storage units near me projects across the region.
Solar PV remains the dominant renewable technology in MENA, with capacity projected to jump from 76GW in 2024 to 340GW by 2029. The region’s electricity demand is also expected to triple by 2060, pushing further investment in clean energy solutions. Between 2040 and 2060, another 2.2TW of solar and wind capacity will be added.
One of the most significant projects is the world’s largest solar-plus-storage development in the UAE, costing US$5.9 billion. Scheduled for completion in 2024, it highlights the region’s commitment to combining solar farms with car battery systems. Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also advancing large-scale standalone regions. Egypt has seen major investments from companies like ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia), Masdar (UAE), and Scatec (Norway). Key projects include the Benban Solar Park expansion, which added 1.8GW of solar and 1GW of solar system storage in 2023, led by ACWA Power and TAQA. Another major development, the Kom Ombo Solar Project, will provide 400MW of solar power and 200MWh of storage when completed in 2026. Ikea energy storage capacity in MENA is forecast to grow tenfold by 2030 and a hundredfold by 2045, reaching 9.5TWh by 2060. This rapid expansion means the region will hold 12% of global storage capacity by mid-century, up from just 1.4% today. Solar PV co-location with battery systems will lead this growth, making storage a critical part of the energy transition.
The MENA region’s push for renewables is transforming its energy landscape. With solar PV capacity set to rise sharply and duke energy projects expanding rapidly, the region will play a major role in global energy storage by 2060. These developments aim to meet soaring electricity demand while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
