MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the country’s biggest producer of oil and gas, has announced the commissioning of a solar PV project that powers all three of its internal airports in the oil concession areas of the Sultanate of Oman.
The successful commissioning of the PDO Airports Solar PV Installation Project is in line with the company’s “commitment to sustainability”, the majority-state-owned energy producer said in a post.
“Located at Fahud, Marmul, and Qarn Alam airports, this ground-mounted, grid-connected system generates 1227 MWh annually. It not only supplies energy to our airports' buildings during the daytime but also reduces CO₂ emissions by 786 tonnes per year,” it added.
Green Universe Enterprise (GUE), a local Omani SME, was contracted by PDO to implement the solar PV plants at the three airports under an award announced in January 2023.
In selecting GUE to undertake the project, PDO said it was guided by the company’s In-Country Value strategy “to support small and medium enterprises in the field of green energy and other sectors”.
Muscat-based Green Universe Enterprise is a leading player in Oman’s small and mid-scale solar PV and green sustainability sector. The SME was founded by well-known entrepreneur Sumaya Nasser al Rawahi, who ranks among the first Omani graduates with engineering degrees in renewable energy.
GUE’s clientele includes a number of prestigious public and private sector organisations that are embracing solar and other clean energy alternatives as part of their decarbonisation strategies. The company has also rolled out a financial model that enables clients to fund their projects, thereby making it easier for them to invest in solar power generation.
Financed and built by PDO, the three internal airports at Fahud, Marmul and Qarn Alarm are currently operated and managed by Oman Airports in keeping with standards and specifications prescribed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Other domestic and international airports of Oman have also chalked out plans to decarbonise their operations through investments in solar power generation or clean energy sources.
On Wednesday, an Indian hydrogen-tech firm announced that it has secured a contract from an airport in the Sultanate of Oman to set up an electrolyzer designed to provide zero-carbon renewable hydrogen to power part of its operations. The pilot-scale 1 MW alkaline electrolyser, integrated with fuel cells, will produce green hydrogen to light up the airport, said an official of Gujarat-based Greenzo Energy Pvt Ltd.
Oman Airports has also instituted a carbon management programme to help gradually reduce the carbon footprint of its Muscat, Salalah and Duqm Airports. Muscat International Airport received a Green Airports Recognition in 2020 from Airports Council International (ACI) for its contribution towards achieving a sustainable airport environment.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
