Qatar is fast moving towards renewable energy and the country has taken several measures to meet its energy needs by further diversifying its energy mix. In an effort to promote research, development and innovation of solar-related technologies within desert climate, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) , on Wednesday, launched the QEERI Solar Consortium — a membership-based program for research, testing and demonstration of groundbreaking solar-energy technologies.
The consortium brings together researchers, engineers, technology producers, project developers and local authorities from the solar energy field, to shape a common focus on practical tests of solar-based devices and systems within Qatar’s desert environment.
The members will get exclusive access to confidential data and research in relation to their own products. All research outputs will be a product of QEERI’s world-class facilities such as the Solar Test Facility, an impressive 35,000-square meter test site located at Qatar Science and Technology Park. The consortium will contribute to drive research, development, and innovation efforts to address main industry challenges in the solar-energy sector.
Senior Research Director for Energy at QEERI and Chair of the Consortium, Dr Veronica Bermudez Benito, said: “One of QEERI’s primary goals is to assist in overcoming Qatar’s grand challenges in relation to energy security. To that effect, we do extensive work in the field of solar energy and its integration within the broader global energy system.
“There are many challenges that are specific to the country such as its desert climate that is characterized by extreme temperature conditions, as well as specific dust and atmospheric features including soiling. Building a solid understanding of the reliability and degradation pathways is a key component for the future economic competitiveness of solar technologies.”
According to estimates recently by QEERI, one sq km of land in Qatar’s desert receives solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of oil in one year alone. There is increased awareness of the need to diversify the energy mix in the MENA region and this has prompted investments in solar projects to grow from $160m in 2010 to $3.5bn in 2015, according to the Oxford Business Group.
The Qatari government has already announced plans for Qatar’s largest Photovoltaics (PV) farm, which will begin operating in 2020 with 200MW of capacity. The MENA region presents a strong market for PV products, and especially Qatar, as it looks to achieve the goals laid out in its National Vision 2030 plan and increase the sustainability of its energy mix.
Qatar is on the right path to diversifying its energy mix, which will in turn have a positive impact on the country’s economy. QEERI – one of HBKU’s three national research institutes, is committed towards aiding Qatar to overcome its energy and water security grand challenges through targeted research and strategic development. Qatar’s commitment to the research could make the country a global leader in solar expertise.
