Manama, Aug. 15 (BNA): Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidain, Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, has affirmed that the signing of the agreements to implement the 72-Megawatt (MW) solar power plant project is in line with the endeavours of the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to support initiatives to address the challenges of climate change.
While patronising the signing ceremony of the deals today, the minister affirmed that the project, which is among the initiatives of the Bahrain''s National Renewable Energy Action Plan, confirms the importance of expanding the use of solar energy to preserve the environment and ensure the sustainability of resources.
The 72-MW solar park is among the development project that would contribute to achieving sustainable economic development for the nation and its citizens, he said, adding that it is within the kingdom''s international commitments.
Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), said that the project is consistent with BIC''s plan to expand the use of solar and other sources of renewable energy throughout the year, noting that it will support BIC''s operations during the hosting of regional and global events, and contribute to honouring its pledges to reduce carbon emissions, towards reaching carbon neutrality.
Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al-Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain (UoB), highlighted UoB''s keenness to promote the culture of sustainability, as well as preserve the environment and its resources, noting that the use of solar energy at the UoB''s buildings and facilities is in line with its sustainable development strategy.
He added that consolidating the kingdom''s status as a model based on a sustainable, low-carbon economy is a top priority at UoB, citing the university''s recent launch of a Master of Science programme in sustainable energy transition systems, which is the first of its kind in the kingdom.
Dr. Nasser Qaedi, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) CEO, affirmed that the use of solar energy at the Exhibition World Bahrain is in line with Bahrain''s policies to adopt renewable and clean energy, noting that the project will contribute significantly to reducing traditional energy consumption and preserving the environment, which will lead to strengthening the Kingdom''s efforts to promote sustainable development and ensure the sustainability of infrastructure development in accordance with international best practices.
Shane Chalmers, CEO of Al Dana Amphitheatre, expressed pride in the initiatives that ensure the expansion of the use of renewable energy, noting that the signing of an agreement to install solar panels at Al-Dana Amphitheatre will support the use of solar energy, which is environment-friendly, and contributes to decarbonisation efforts by using sustainable energy solutions and reducing the total cost of energy.
It is worth noting that the 72-megawatt multi-site solar photovoltaic power project, which is located in Sakhir, comprises rooftop, ground-mounted, car park solar power systems and electric vehicle charging stations at Bahrain International Circuit, University of Bahrain, Exhibition World Bahrain and Al Dana Amphitheatre.
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The Kingdom has edged one step closer to developing a viable alternative energy infrastructure with its implementation of a solar energy project in the Awali Township of Manama. The 5MW, utility-scale photovoltaic solar facility was arranged as a joint venture between the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA), the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), Caspian Energy Holdings and Petra Solar. The project marks one of the Gulf region''s first tendered utility-scale solar project.
The pilot venture is currently in the developmental phase, with the facility''s functionality and cost-effectiveness within the macro energy sector yet to be determined. Pending proper execution, however, the project may serve as a pioneer for the establishment of a local renewable energy market.
According to Abdul Hussain Ali Mirza, the minister of state for electricity and water affairs, "Following a successful implementation of this pilot project, we expect other projects to follow in the near future. Through strategic alliances with technologically advanced partners, NOGA aims to diversify the energy supply sources that will help achieve the goals of Bahrain Vision 2030."
Yet cost-effectiveness remains a crucial factor for fully integrating an alternative energy infrastructure. Bahrain currently enjoys an adequate supply of natural gas – 1.7bn standard cu feet per day – to meet its industrial, manufacturing and domestic electricity demands. Although the government has moderately raised the price of gas to $2.25 per million British thermal units, an energy subsidy continues to keep the price low, which inhibits the development of a sizable market for alternative energy.
In addition to the subsidy, the Kingdom is actively engaged in increasing its oil and gas supply through various enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, undertaken by the government''s upstream exploratory company, Tatweer, as well as through the development of a large-scale liquefied natural gas import terminal. Tatweer''s success in increasing fossil fuel production is likely to ensure the role of fossil fuel as the most cost-effective power source at the consumer level for some time to come.
Secondary obstacles to an alternative energy segment include high real estate prices and the lack of a legal framework. Land is limited on the 765-sq-km island, and renewable energy projects, particularly solar, require sizable areas for development.
Bahrain also lacks formal legislation that would better facilitate sector development, such as tax incentives or the re-selling of carbon dioxide no longer being used back to the state''s electric grid network. Similarly, there is an absence of legislation regarding a formalised process for integrating electricity output from renewable plants to the grid.
Although the obstacles to wide-scale renewable energy remain significant, the market conditions for renewable technology are continually improving. “In just the past two years, the cost of producing 1 MW of solar energy using American technology has dropped to $2m from $3m," Rob Sobhani, the president of Caspian Energy Consulting, told CNN in mid-August. "The price of smart grid technology has fallen to $5m per MW from $6m per MW."
Another policy trend linking to smart technology is Bahrain''s eGovernment initiatives, which aim to apply smart grid technology to several components of infrastructure, such as street lighting, parking meters, automated management systems, and perhaps electric vehicles. The increasingly more affordable technology used for the Petra Solar project may have an important ripple effect for public service systems across Bahrain.
"By conservative estimates from private and government experts, countries in the Middle East plan to invest around $500bn in solar energy over the next two decades," said Sobhani. With high solar energy performance indicators (a global horizontal irradiance of 2160 kWh per sq metre per year and a direct normal irradiance of 2050 kWh per sq metre per year), growing electricity consumption rates, a renewed debate on subsidy reduction, and uncertainty regarding future domestic energy production and foreign gas suppliers, Bahrain possesses strong potential to develop a viable renewable energy market, with solar energy in particular key to potential future success.
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The launch of this solar project at the German Embassy is part of Bahrain''s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and aligns with the Kingdom''s environmental goals. The project aims to integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind, thereby facilitating Bahrain''s transition to cleaner energy.
This initiative, which is a collaboration between the Bahraini government and the German Embassy, underscores the importance of international partnerships in advancing sustainable energy. The solar energy project at the German Embassy is the first of its kind among foreign embassies in Bahrain, thereby highlighting the potential for renewable energy to reduce natural gas consumption and protect natural resources.Minister Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan emphasized Bahrain''s dedication to transitioning towards a post-carbon economy. He praised the German Embassy''s proactive approach, noting that the solar panel installation demonstrates a strong commitment to climate sustainability and supports Bahrain''s renewable energy targets.
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