Explore prospects of GCC-Turkish cooperation in energy transition

Trends’ and ‘Atlantic Council

Experts in the fields of energy, sustainability and environment stressed the need to remove regional barriers and strengthen economic relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Türkiye, in order to achieve collective gains in the energy transition system.

They called for the acceleration of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, especially wind and solar energy. They also stressed the need to accelerate the Middle Eastern efforts to achieve a more sustainable future.

Trends Research and Advisory and the Atlantic Council-Türkiye held a panel discussion, entitled "Prospects for Cooperation in Energy Transition for a Sustainable Future: GCC, Türkiye, and Regional Perspectives.” The discussion indicated the unprecedented spread of technology has accelerated the adoption of renewable energy technologies.

The GCC countries and Türkiye occupy a prominent position in the Global South in terms of prioritising renewables. The panel discussion was held on Saturday, at the Knowledge Centre - Green Zone of (COP28).

Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Advisory, said in the opening remarks of the panel discussion that this event acquires special importance because its discussions are based on the ideas contained in the first report produced jointly by Trends and the Atlantic Council – Türkiye, entitled Prospects for Cooperation in Energy Transition for a Sustainable Future: GCC, Türkiye, and Regional Perspectives.”

Dr. Al-Ali stressed that the panel discussion explores the prospects for partnership between the GCC countries and Türkiye in the field of energy transition, accelerating the adoption of clean energy and addressing climate change. He added that energy transition is the core of international sustainability efforts.

Regional cooperation between Türkiye and the GCC states in sustainability can be viewed in terms of two aspects; first to create promising investment opportunities for the countries of the region, and enhance opportunities for joint investments, and the second revolves around the transfer of Knowledge and exchange of best practices in climate adaptation.

Defne Sadıklar Arslan, Senior Director, Atlantic Council in Türkiye Türkiye Programmes Centre, Atlantic Council, said that Türkiye and the GCC States not only share the challenges stemming from climate change, but there are also many synergies in the energy sector, including renewable energy, energy security, and diversification of the energy resources.

The panel discussion was moderated by Serhat S. Cubukcuoglu, Senior Fellow, Department of Strategic Studies at Trends Research and Advisory. Moza Al-Marzouqi, Researcher in the Department of Economic Studies at Trends Research and Advisory, explained that the prospects for sustainable future cooperation between the GCC countries and Türkiye are focused on increasing reliance on renewable energy, offshore wind energy, solar energy, nuclear energy, and clean hydrogen in agriculture, manufacturing and transportation.

Al Marzouqi added that there are other opportunities for GCC-Turkish cooperation in joint future projects to address climate change issues, especially water and air pollution, sandstorms and floods. Moreover, the two sides can pursue cooperation in the fields of transport, trade and manufacturing, expansion of smart buildings, and paperless trade and agriculture.

Eser Ozdil, Non-Resident Fellow, Atlantic Council, stressed that traditional aspects related to the security and cost of energy supply have been supported by the general privatisation of Türkiye's energy sector.

In fact, between 2002 and 2016, Türkiye was able to attract more than $60 billion of investment and private funds to the energy sector. This indicates that Türkiye intends to add another 65 gigawatts of renewable energy production, which requires massive investments ranging between $40 and $45 billion.

Melek Ozturk, Principal, The Electric Vehicle (EV) Exchange, pointed out that reducing emissions in the transport sector is a major goal that Türkiye seeks to achieve, by setting emissions level targets and developing the manufacture of electric cars. Indeed, given the high proportion of renewable energy produced in Türkiye based on hydro, wind and solar energy, Türkiye is likely to achieve its climate goals by 2030. She added that for each renewable energy plant project Türkiye needs to build an energy storage facility.

Karim Al Gendy, Associate Fellow, Environment and Society Center -Chatham House said that the approach taken by both the GCC States and Türkiye on the issue of energy transition is based on climate commitments and economic motives. He added that future Turkish-GCC cooperation could benefit from connecting the Turkish pipeline to the EU hydrogen market.