Though lacking the resources that have enabled richer Arab states, and the UAE in particular, to play a leading role in promoting renewable energy, Syria is also looking to boost its involvement in this field. This week, the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) in Damascus is hosting an International Conference on International Energies (ICRE) and Exhibition.
According to ICRE’s website, the purpose of the conference “is to bring together international researchers and practitioners working at the cutting-edge of solar energy, as well as related areas such as renewable energy and clean energy.” The website goes on to succinctly state: “The renewable energy sector can give our host country a lot.”
The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that “experts from research centers in Germany, Serbia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan presented papers stating that achieving integration among renewable energy sources can guarantee supplying energy to several countries, underlining the need for every side to exert all efforts to guarantee energy sources in the future since the world still has the ability and options to achieve this goal.”
The participants discussed issues including the production of energy via geothermal heat pumps, methods for optimal use of solar energy storage systems in buildings, and the generation of electricity from solar energy in desert regions.
The three-day conference concludes on Wednesday.
Image via SANA
More on environmental issues in Syria:
Syria’s President Appoints Woman As New Environment Minister
A Nature Peace Park Won’t Work Without Syrian-Israel Peace First‘
Author: Ira Moskowitz
When his kids were small, Ira would point to litter on the ground and tell them: “That makes me angry!” He still gets angry about pollution, waste and abusive treatment of our world, but is encouraged by the growing awareness of environmental issues and has been following the latest developments in cleantech with great interest. Ira grew up in the green hills of western Massachusetts and moved to Israel in the early 1980s after completing an MA in Middle Eastern Studies. He has worked as a software developer and journalist, and translates works of Hebrew fiction and non-fiction to English. Ira is trying to age gracefully, but refuses to surrender his youthful belief in the potential for change, including a collaborative future for the peoples of the Middle East. To contact Ira, email ira (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
