MUSCAT: Tenders for building three solar power projects will be floated in the fourth quarter of this year, which is part of seven similar projects identified for development by Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco). “”We have completed feasibility studies for three projects and tenders will be launched in the last quarter of this year,” noted Eng Hamad Al Maghdari, chief executive officer of Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco).
These solar projects, planned in Duqm, Masirah and another region. These are fast-growing areas in order to reduce consumption of diesel fuel and save manpower and spare parts.
Raeco earlier conducted studies in 12 sites, which were encouraging and helped the company to move forward to use solar energy.
He said the government is encouraging private sector to invest in solar project, which will reduce burden on state budget.
The use of solar energy during the day in Oman is very promising, as the Sultanate receives 7,900 gigawatts from the sun per day. This is huge but lack of adequate space for the installation of solar panels is one of the obstacles for using the energy. “We can overcome this obstacle by using mountain surfaces and other non-inhabited areas. Another obstacle is the lack of systems that can be used to dispose of the excess energy produced from these stations because this energy cannot be stopped, and therefore the presence of specific systems to attach or connect these stations to the main electrical pumping networks is imperative.”
Reliance on renewable energy across the world is increasing mainly because it does not cause pollution or risk to the life of people, unlike nuclear energy.
