In a recent interview with PV Insider, John Cuneen Executive Director at Oman's Authority for Electricity Regulation disclosed that the 303kW solar pilot installation is set to pave the way for larger-scale solar projects in the sultanate.
The US company Astonfield Renewables, in partnership with the Bahwan Engineering Group will be installing 151.5kW of thin ﬁlm PV modules and 151.5 kW poly-crystalline to provide much-needed comparative information to the government on efficiency and performance.
Until recently Omani residents had benefitted from relatively low electricity prices due to government subsidies. Because of this solar was not seen as economically competitive. However, in 2013 the government adjusted the price of diesel- the main fuel and electricity source to the market price.
However solar also has its unique advantages. Rural and remote electricity generation represents 3% of the total electricity market and there is the potential to lower costs and emissions through system hybridisation. A solar solution without backup isn't feasible where there isn't central grid access, but with the high rates of GHI, the need for diesel is reduced.
Oman isn't the only country in the region to subsidise electricity prices in the region. The total cost of subsidies on internal consumption is, according to the International Monetary Fund equivalent to a value of $236.7 billion dollars per year. This subsidisation of a commodity valued highly as an export such as crude oil or gas is perhaps the primary driver for the development of solar in many countries in the region.
At MENASOL 2014 (6-7 May, Dubai) the leading authorities and companies looking at module performance will be sharing their results, so that governments, organisations and EPC companies can choose the best performing technology for their sites. Masdar Institute, Green Gulf Qatar, Solar Frontier, DuPont Photovoltaic solutions.
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