YUSUF BİÇER

Clean energy transition pathways for oil and gas-driven countries: A case study of Qatar

Abstract

In hydrocarbon-dependent economies, achieving deep decarbonization necessitates transition pathways that are both locally based and technically sound. This study conducts a long-term, scenario-based evaluation of Qatar’s energy transition to 2050, focusing on how a major natural gas producer can reduce emissions while preserving the reliability of the energy system and its economic viability.

The analysis examines ways to reduce carbon emissions in buildings, transportation, and industry through targeted measures such as demand-side management, district cooling expansion, electrification, electric vehicle adoption, and industrial heat decarbonization. The results show that by 2050, emissions could be cut by about 30% in buildings, 28% in transportation, and 32% in industry in Qatar.

The study also creates and compares different scenarios for the electricity sector, from policies that have been put in place and the least-cost way to develop, to more ambitious low-carbon and clean-electricity paths. The findings indicate that a pragmatic least-cost approach can achieve nearly a 50% reduction in power-sector emissions by 2050, whereas more ambitious strategies may achieve near-total decarbonization of the power sector, albeit at the cost of substantially greater investments in renewable capacity, grid enhancements, and advanced technologies.

The research advances the Energy Transformation 2050 agenda by demonstrating how sector coupling, electrification, renewable integration, and scenario-based planning can facilitate a systematic transition to a low-emission energy future.

Biyografi

Dr. Yusuf Bicer is an associate professor at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Division in the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar.
Dr. Yusuf Bicer received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Canada (2017). He completed his BS in Control Engineering (2012) and a master’s degree in Energy Science and Technology (2014) at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey.
His research area focuses on solar energy utilization in various chemical and electrochemical processes, development of renewable-based integrated energy systems, desalination, energy storage and clean fuel production and utilization, including hydrogen and ammonia.