Alaqeel, Turki

  • Primary Program Energy Transitions and Electric Power
  • Research Interests energy transitions, electricity markets regulations and policy, Smart Grid, digitalization and innovation, power system modeling, renewable energy policy, and energy efficiency

Biography

Turki Al-Aqeel was a Senior Research Associate at KAPSARC. He has also worked in many national and multinational firms in Saudi Arabia and the United States in policy-related research, economic and market analysis, and electric power systems. His professional experience includes ABB, Woodward, Colorado Concept Coatings, and the Advanced Power Engineering Laboratory. Al-Aqeel holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, master’s degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University, and Graduate Certificates in Power and Energy, and Finance. Al-Aqeel is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Certified Modular Advanced Control (MACH2) Engineer for Flexible AC Transmission Systems. He has published several journal articles and conference proceedings in peer-reviewed journals and events and is a reviewer in several journals and conferences and a member of local and international committees.

Publications

See all Turki’s publications
  • Discussion papers
  • Report
  • Data Insights
  • Conference paper
  • Instant Insight
  • Commentaries
  • External journal articles
Electricity Sector Liberalization in Egypt: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

Electricity Sector Liberalization in Egypt: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

KAPSARC has initiated a research project to develop insights that can facilitate the establishment of a well-functioning integrated electricity market comprising the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It aims to assess the key issues affecting electricity market integration within the GCC and wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to produce insights and policy recommendations that facilitate market integration.

5th October 2020
Saudi Arabia’s Unfolding Power Sector Reform: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

Saudi Arabia’s Unfolding Power Sector Reform: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

Today, there is a physical exchange of electricity between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. However, this is not the same as competitive trade in electricity. Numerous studies have shown the efficiency benefits of electricity trade among GCC countries. These studies inevitably make simplifying assumptions about several complex issues in the power sector of these countries to focus on the economic gains of trade. However, issues such as the availability of transparent information so that participants can trade, transmission access and pricing, the level of competition in the wholesale electricity market, the coordination of system operations, and the harmonization of power sector structures and market rules are all very important. 

21st June 2020
Oman Electricity Sector: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

Oman Electricity Sector: Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

This discussion paper is part of a KAPSARC research project initiated to develop insights that can facilitate the creation of a well-functioning integrated electricity market comprising the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The project identifies and examines the key issues affecting electricity market integration within the GCC and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and suggests the enablers needed to facilitate market integration. This report focuses on Oman’s electricity sector, the liberalization of which started in 2004. The country’s power reforms are now poised to move to the next level, with the aim of creating a more competitive electricity industry in the Sultanate. Key features of Oman’s electricity market, challenges, and opportunities for market integration identified in the paper include: Nearly one quarter of Oman’s domestic natural gas production is used to power electricity generation and water desalination plants. The government’s National Energy Strategy 2040 seeks to ensure the country’s long-term energy sustainability, in part through targeting that at least 10% of electricity output comes from renewables by 2025. The private sector now owns 100% of generation capacity in Oman’s main interconnected system (MIS), and efforts have started to privatize other transmission and distribution firms. Regulatory oversight through a financially and administratively independent regulator with an adequate mandate, the Authority for Electricity Regulation, has played a key role in improving the sector’s performance and has created confidence among new industry players. In future, Oman’s gas network may be included in the regulator’s remit. Oman intends to implement a new arrangement for the future procurement of electricity through the spot market by 2020.

29th May 2019
Abu Dhabi Electricity Sector – Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

Abu Dhabi Electricity Sector – Features, Challenges and Opportunities for Market Integration

The emirate of Abu Dhabi was the first in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to design and implement reforms aimed at moving away from a wholly government-owned vertically-integrated electricity market structure. From 1998, Abu Dhabi introduced several policy, legislative, structural and institutional reforms to its electricity sector and the related water desalination industry. This analysis discusses reform initiatives, restructuring activities and key market players as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with increased participation in regional electricity trading. Key features of the emirate’s electricity market and challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border electricity trading include: Maintaining economically competitive self-sufficiency in power. Reducing the cost of electricity procurement by using regional interconnections is thus an emerging driver for market integration. With lower peak demand growth projections and the commissioning of a 5.6 gigawatt nuclear power plant, Abu Dhabi’s electricity sector is likely to produce larger power surpluses, encouraging cross-border electricity trading opportunities. The current single-buyer model provides limited ‘implicit’ competition in the procurement of bulk supply. There is little or no pressure on power generators to compete with others in day-to-day operations. Power trading prospects are also hampered by the lack of volume- and time-specific marginal costs. Abu Dhabi’s electricity and water producers do not receive explicit fuel subsidies. However, electricity tariffs are still heavily subsidized for many residential consumers. Abu Dhabi is exploring several options to further liberalize its electricity market. Electricity trading is likely to be recognized as a separate licensed activity, which is expected to give fresh impetus to electricity trading within Abu Dhabi, across the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Gulf region. The paper is part of a KAPSARC research project to develop insights that can facilitate the creation of a well-functioning integrated electricity market among members of the GCC and wider Middle East and North Africa region and to suggest potential enablers that could help to fill existing knowledge gaps for policymakers in the region and to facilitate ongoing efforts toward regional electricity market integration.

3rd March 2019
Energy Exchanges on GCCIA Interconnector

Energy Exchanges on GCCIA Interconnector

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) interconnection grid has linked the national grids of the six GCC countries since 2011. It is run by the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA). It has been primarily designed to provide GCC member countries with alternative sources of operating reserves to improve the security of the regions’ power supply and support the reliability of supply during emergencies such as blackouts and unforeseen contingencies.

27th April 2020
Temperature Trends Across Cities in Saudi Arabia

Temperature Trends Across Cities in Saudi Arabia

KAPSARC examined temperature data for 11 cities spread across Saudi Arabia over 10 years. Except for Makkah, all cities in Saudi Arabia were warmer in 2018 compared with the national 10-year average. 

15th September 2019
Potential of Various Renewable Energy and its Introduction Policy in Southeast Asia

Potential of Various Renewable Energy and its Introduction Policy in Southeast Asia

Renewable energy has gained importance and is changing the face of energy business. Introduction of community-based off-grid renewable electricity in developing countries is desirable from the viewpoint of fostering inclusive growth. Southeast Asia provides an ideal ground for demonstration, since the region is endowed with abundant renewable resources as well as a significant need for off-grid electricity. Identified impediments include inadequacies in accumulation of relevant data, management skills, financing and harmonization. Assistance by governments and international institutions such as development banks, coupled with utilizing private sector skills on energy management and novel financing methods are the keys to overcoming them.

31st March 2019
Realizing the G20’s Vision for a Resilient Grid During the Power Sector’s Transformation

Realizing the G20’s Vision for a Resilient Grid During the Power Sector’s Transformation

In many parts of the world, summer and fall bring unpleasant climate events such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, tornados, or thunderstorms that disturb energy systems, especially power grids. These events impact power demand and disturb the power sector’s supply. Electricity production can be affected by disruptions to fuel access and grid infrastructure. In particular, railways and barges are more susceptible to increased interruptions and delays during severe weather events. Renewable energy resources can be affected by changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures. Likewise, high wind conditions can also knock down overhead transmission lines. Thus, power outages can lead to widespread power blackouts, potentially impacting thousands or millions of people across cities, regions, or countries. In some cases, utilities may be forced to implement intentional power outages to prevent power system components from being negatively affected by wildfires or other natural events.

20th August 2020
Is Saudi Arabia Getting Warmer?

Is Saudi Arabia Getting Warmer?

According to NASA, the world is getting warmer. Warmer weather increases the demand for cooling, which subsequently increases the demand for electricity. Is Saudi Arabia getting warmer? And how might this impact the demand for electricity in the Kingdom? To answer these questions, KAPSARC examined temperature data1 for 13 cities spread across Saudi Arabia over 29 years (from 1990 to 2018). The cities included Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Madinah, Arar, Sakaka, Tabuk, Hail, Buraydah, Albaha, Abha, Jazan, and Najran. 

6th April 2020
Electricity Sector Reforms in Abu Dhabi and Oman: What Have We Learned?

Electricity Sector Reforms in Abu Dhabi and Oman: What Have We Learned?

Chile was the first country to reform its electricity sector. The reform program was first mooted when Chile’s National Energy Commission was established in 1978; it took off with the enactment of the country’s Electricity Sector Law in 1982. This law is still cited as landmark legislation in the electricity industry. Since then, many countries have implemented reforms to revamp their electricity sectors, such as the unbundling, privatization and independent regulation in England and Wales in 1989.

20th October 2019

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