SUR: Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, emphasized the importance of energy storage solutions to help complement’s the country’s broader push to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
Speaking at the inauguration of a solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Sur earlier this week, Al Aufi highlighted the critical role of energy storage in supporting Oman’s sustainability goals.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channels. Click here
He noted, "In contrast to regions like Europe or the Far East, which have access to natural hydropower sources, our area lacks this advantage. Therefore, we must focus on energy storage for the power we generate during the day. While some energy can still be generated in the evening, particularly if it's from wind sources, this dependence on factors like wind or sunlight isn't a sustainable approach. Ideally, we prefer to maintain control over our power generation and use solar and wind energy to charge our storage systems.”
Developed through a collaboration between Veolia and TotalEnergies, the 17-megawatt peak (MWp) solar system inaugurated earlier this week is designed to supply clean energy to power the Sharqiyah Desalination Plant.
Al Aufi emphasized the substantial impact of this project on reducing carbon emissions, a goal that is shared by both the Minister and the nation. The solar farm is projected to cut approximately 27,200 tons of CO2 emissions annually, marking a significant step towards achieving Oman's environmental goals.
Construction work on the solar PV farm commenced in August 2022. Rigorous testing was conducted between March 30, 2023 and April 15, 2023, and commercial operation began on April 16, 2023. The lease agreement for the solar farm's operation extends until March 31, 2036.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
