Qatar improves renewable energy with new solar power plant
The QR1.7bn Al-Kharsaah Large Scale Solar PV Power Plant gives Qatar a significant push toward renewable energy efforts with its total capacity of 800MW. This equals approximately 10% of the peak electricity demand in Qatar, as the agreements were signed in the presence of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs as well as Qatar Petroleum (QP) president and CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi.
Included among the various signatories were Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) general manager and managing director and Siraj Energy board of directors member Fahad bin Hamad al-Mohannadi, Marubeni Corporation president and CEO Masumi Kakinoki, and Total chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné.
The Al-Kharsaah area of West Doha will be home to the impressive new solar energy power plant (which is also the first of its kind in the country) with a whopping coverage of 10sq km. The investment percentages are as follows:
- Qatar’s Siraj Energy will hold a 60% stake (this is a joint venture owned by QP and QEWC)
- The remaining percentages will be held by Total in France (19.6% share contribution) and Marubeni in Japan (about 20.4% of the total project)
- Kahramaa will buy electricity from Siraj Energy
After 25 years, the ownership will be duly transferred to Kahramaa following a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model.
“Dual panels will be used, automated systems will be in place to track the sun and robots deployed for cleaning the solar panels to ensure the continuity of production efficiency and reduce plant operating costs,” said Al-Mohannadi. This power plant is itself a huge achievement at the regional level. With the construction of the huge project, the latest innovations and developments in the solar energy field of technology will be applied.
How will the gigantic project begin? The first phase will have 350 MW connected to the grid by the first quarter of 2021, while the first quarter of 2022 will see the commercial commissioning of the total capacity. The goals set in this 800 MW project are in line with the targets set in the Qatar National Development Strategy 2018 – 2022. This is also in part to help boost preparations for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As of the moment, 16 leading international solar power developers are already prequalified based on technical efficiency and cost-effectiveness. With this commendable project, Qatar continues to be an active member of the global fight against climate change with safer, cleaner, and more affordable energy sources that aim to improve the lives of the future generations in all of the years to come. This means being able to ensure the proper implementation of this project with the right resources and the most up-to-date technological developments for a bigger and better chance at success for all parties involved.
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