Solar energy to contribute 21pc of Oman’s power needs by 2030

@conradprabhu -

Solar based projects will account for a dominant share of electricity produced from renewable energy resources, according to a key document submitted by the Sultanate of Oman as part of its commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Of a pledge to secure a minimum 30 per cent of the country’s electricity requirements from renewable energy resources by 2030, a share equivalent to 21 percentage points will come from solar capacity alone. The share of wind resources will be 6.5 per cent, while waste-to-energy (WTE) projects will account for a 2.5 per cent contribution.

The figures are part of a series of ‘Mitigation Actions and Effects’ outlined by the Sultanate of Oman in the ‘Facilitative Sharing of Views’ submission made recently by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the country’s principal focal point on climate change issues, under the UNFCCC framework.

A commitment to harness renewables for 30 per cent of the country’s power needs by 2030 is one of the cornerstones of the National Energy Strategy 2040 of the Sultanate of Oman. It envisions an energy mix with natural gas continuing to play a predominant role in power generation, but with solar and wind resources making a rising contribution as well.

A timeline included in the ‘Facilitative Sharing of Views’ document projects a contribution of 2,450 MW of capacity coming from renewables by 2025. This target is based on projections provided by the Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) in its 7-Year Outlook Statement spanning the 2019 – 2025 period.

Solar capacity in the energy mix is anticipated to rise from 500 MW in 2022 (a reference to the Ibri-II Solar PV Independent Power Project set to come on stream in Al Dhahirah Governorate) to 2,000 MW by 2025. This includes a 1,000 MW capacity solar PV IPP planned at Manah in Al Dakhiliya Governorate, the award and implementation has been somewhat delayed by the economic downturn and the pandemic.

The potential for a solar-based Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, originally envisaged in Al Wusta Governorate, is also foreseen by 2025.

Contributions from wind resources will aggregate to about 350 MW by 2025, with a further 100 MW coming from a stalled Waste to Energy project planned at Barka in South Al Batinah Governorate.

The share of gas-fired power plants, currently accounting for almost all of Oman’s power generation output, is expected to be substantially capped going forward, with renewables covering any demand growth in the short term to long-term.

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