The Director of Technical Affairs Department at Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, Ahmed Nasser Al Nasser (second right), inaugurates the Solar Qatar Summit at Grand Hyatt yesterday. Shaival Dalal
DOHA: Consultancy services contract for the multi-million-riyal renewable energy pilot project of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is likely to be awarded by year end or early next year.
Saleh Al Marri, Head of Renewable Energy Technologies in Kahramaa, said that while consultancy services contract is expected to be awarded by year end or early next year, work for the project would likely to start by end of the first quarter next year or by second quarter.
Al Marri was speaking at a press conference following the opening of the Solar Qatar Summit yesterday at Grand Hyatt Hotel on Kahramaa’s pilot project that would utilise solar energy to generate electricity.
The project, which would utilise the latest solar technology, would cost between QR80m and QR120m and would utilise rooftops of Kahramaa pumping stations to generate 5mw to 10mw electricity.
“We have more than 35 pumping stations that have areas on the rooftop that can generate that much quantity,” said Al Marri.
Located in Duhail, the pioneering project will be located on an area of 110,000sqm and would be implemented on reduced cost because land is free as the project would utilise existing Kahramaa premises, as well as there would be no need for transmission lines, said Al Marri.
The solar project which was announced at last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference COP18 is aimed at producing 200mw by 2020, which is 2 percent of the total power generation in Qatar.
Inaugurated by Kahramaa’s Technical Affairs Director, Ahmed Nasser Al Nasser, the two-day summit is organised with the support of the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planni H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, and patronage of Kahramaa President Eng Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari.
In his inaugural speech, Al Nasr stressed that electricity and water supply were the most important infrastructures needed for any economy and society; therefore, their sustainable delivery would ensure sustainable economy.
He said that Kahramaa has taken steps to strengthen its partnerships and collaboration with solar energy’s stakeholders inside and outside Qatar resulting in signing of MOUs with many leading institutions.
“Kahramaa has a close coordination with Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee to support developing the “Green Qatar 2022” adhering to QNV 2030 by increasing the generation of renewable energy to contribute to a Carbon – Neutral event,” he added.
Al Marri presented “Kahramaa towards Creative Methods to Exploit Renewable Energy Sources” at the opening day of the Summit. He explained the environmental, economic, human and social benefits of solar energy projects in Qatar.
He underlined solar energy as a complementary source of energy to minimise costs, reduce gas consumption and diversify source of energy in the country for national security as well as reduce the harmful effects on the environment. The Peninsula
