Combining solar energy with electric mobility (eMobility) could play a transformative role in decarbonising transport and strengthening national grids across the GCC, according to PwC Middle East’s latest report, Coupling Solar with eMobility: The Next Frontier in Clean Transport.
The report outlines how aligning solar power generation with electric vehicle (EV) charging through smart infrastructure, storage, and demand-side management can significantly reduce emissions in both the transport and energy sectors.
It provides a roadmap for governments, utilities, and private sector stakeholders to build integrated energy mobility ecosystems that support national sustainability goals.
As GCC countries push forward with ambitious net-zero targets, PwC highlights a major untapped opportunity: most vehicles remain parked for around 95 per cent of the day. By synchronising EV charging with daytime solar generation, idle vehicles can become active contributors to the clean energy system.
Rooftop solar installations at workplaces, shopping centres, and residential buildings could allow charging during daylight hours, easing evening grid loads and reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based backup generation.
“Coupling solar power and eMobility isn’t just about cutting emissions – it’s about building a new energy economy for the GCC,” said Heiko Seitz, Global and Middle East eMobility Leader at PwC Middle East.
“Clean mobility can become a catalyst for investment, jobs and innovation across the energy value chain, while strengthening grid resilience for decades to come.”
The report notes that while the potential for integration is clear, progress will depend on addressing key challenges such as grid limitations, high initial costs for hybrid solar-charging systems, and limited consumer awareness. Many EV owners still charge vehicles at night, missing the opportunity to align with solar peak hours.
PwC identifies three critical enablers for successful integration:
- Smart charging and energy management systems to optimise charging cycles and reduce grid strain.
- Battery storage solutions to balance solar generation and demand, enabling use of surplus daytime energy at night.
- Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, allowing EVs to feed power back into homes, buildings and the grid.
Drawing lessons from Europe, the report points to Germany’s incentives for rooftop solar and EV integration, the Netherlands’ nationwide smart-charging network, and Norway’s renewable-powered public charging systems as models that GCC nations can adapt.
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