Business

Dhofar wind project achieves peak output

Dhofar wind farm new
 
Dhofar wind farm new
BUSINESS REPORTER

The Rural Areas Electricity Company (Tanweer), member of Nama Group, has announced that electricity output from the Dhofar Wind project achieved a new generation peak of over 30 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in July -- the highest since the wind farm commenced commercial operation in November 2019.

The plant, Oman's first wind-based power project and one of the most prominent renewable energy projects, managed to reach this level of power generation at an average wind speed of 12.6 metres per second (m/s).

On this occasion, Ahmed Said al Harthy, Tanweer Acting CEO, said, "Tanweer seeks to develop and implement studies to support economic diversification plans, promote sustainable energy, and achieve optimal energy use by focusing on renewable energy projects in the company's concession areas.

"The Dhofar Wind Power Plant is part of the electricity transmission grid in the province and supplies customers with more than 190 GWh of clean electricity," he added.

The wind farm has a generation capacity of 50 MW with 13 wind turbines, each turbine with a production capacity of 3.8 MW.

The generated electricity is transmitted via high voltage lines (132 kV) connected to the main grid in the Governorate of Dhofar to supply the costumers connected to it.

Al Harthy said Tanweer also concentrates on strengthening the electricity system in its concession area in the governorates, in line with its relentless efforts to develop and safely operate its grid.

The new output record comes as an important milestone in achieving the company's vision, which aims to produce at least 20 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025, thus supporting the Sultanate's efforts to reach 30 per cent of clean electricity production by 2030.

In 2015, Tanweero launched a solar power plant in the Wilayat of Al Mazyona in the Dhofar Governorate on 8,000 square metres and an annual production capacity of 550-MWh.

Al Mazyona Solar Power Plant is the first commercial project to produce electricity using renewable energy in Oman. In addition, it promotes the use of clean, renewable energy through its contribution to reducing 433 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Tanweer is also implementing and overlooking several renewable energy projects in the Sultanate, especially schools located in the company's concession areas.

Including four solar-powered schools. The company's efforts did not go unnoticed.

Dhofar Wind won the "Wind Power Project of the Year" award at the Asian Power Awards in 2019.

Oman's first wind farm is a successful result of the joint development agreement signed in 2014 between the Sultanate's government represented by Tanweer and the Abu Dhabi government represented by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), with investments amounting to $100 million.

The farm, spread over 19 square kilometres, is located in the Fetkhit area in Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Halaniyat islands. It is the largest wind-powered electricity generation plant in the Arabian Gulf region.