Business

Oman’s first solar panel manufacturing project launched at Suhar

View of Sheida Solar’s plant at Suhar Industrial City. (Picture courtesy: Ecoprogetti)
 
View of Sheida Solar’s plant at Suhar Industrial City. (Picture courtesy: Ecoprogetti)
MUSCAT: Ecoprogetti SRL, a leading European supplier of machinery for solar panel manufacturing plants around the world, has announced the successful completion of the production line of Oman’s first solar PV project.

The Omani client is Sheida Industries LLC, which has established the country’s maiden solar panel manufacturing plant at Suhar Industrial City. Sheida Solar, as the new plant is called, is set to be the first of a growing handful of investments targeted the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and related hardware, for Oman’s mega-billion dollar renewable energy and green hydrogen industries.

“We are excited to announce the launch of the first advanced photovoltaic production line in Oman,” said Italy-based Ecoprogetti SRL in a post on Friday.

“Sheida Industries LLC is proud to present a 50MW line, now producing 450, 550 and 590 watt panels with state-of-the-art TopCon technology. This significant landmark represents the production of the first solar panel from this state-of-the-art plant located in Suhar. We are thrilled with the results and confident in the bright future this brings to Oman: a future powered by the sun!” Sheida Solar made its debut at the Oman Sustainability Week 2024, which was held in Muscat during April – May this year. Julunda al Balushi, Chief Executive Officer, led a team of senior company executives at Sheida Solar’s stall at the event.

Commenting on the outlook for the new company’s commercial success in Oman, Ecoprogetti SRL added: “Under the leadership of Julanda al Balushi, CEO, and with a commitment to sustainability, Sheida Solar is leading the way towards a green future. They are committed to providing high quality solar panels to meet diverse market demands and build a sustainable environment for future generations.” While Sheida Solar is expected to target the small and medium-scale solar PV market, newer solar plants announced in recent markets will have an eye on major solar PV and green hydrogen schemes planned in Oman and the wider region in the coming years.

Just last month, Q-SUN – a leading Chinese solar PV tech company – announced the signing of an agreement with an Omani firm for the joint development of a 10-gigawatt (GW) capacity solar module factory in the country.

Earlier in June, Chinese solar PV manufacturer Hainan Drinda announced the signing of a provisional agreement with an Omani investor for the establishment of high-efficiency PV cells plant in Oman. At full capacity, the plant will boast an annual production capacity of 10 GW to be built in two phases of 5 GW each, it said.