27 March 2012
MUSCAT -- Authorities overseeing the Sultanate's maiden foray into large-scale renewable energy development are progressing studies designed to pinpoint an ideal location for the establishment of the country's first major solar power project.
The government-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), which has been playing a key role in, among other things, the study of suitable sites for the project, says it is continuing to evaluate data collected from monitoring equipment set up at potential locations.
Earlier this week, the state-run procurer published solar insolation data and other related information, for the benefit of potential developers and investors looking for opportunities linked to the establishment of the solar power project, as well as a wider solar-based industry in the Sultanate.
"The objective of this publication is to offer the opportunity for all parties that are interested in the Solar Project in the Sultanate of Oman, whether for development, investment, or other purposes to receive an update of data collection progress and to allow for further analysis and interpretation of the raw data provided. OPWP has also provided its own interpretation of the data for review, and is open to feedback from interested parties," the procurer said.
A clear mandate from the Council of Ministers for the implementation of the solar power project, with a net output ranging from 100-200 MW, is still awaited. However, at its meeting last November the Council directed the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) "to complete studying the technical and economic aspects for utilising solar energy in power generation and encourage the private sector to invest in this important field".
Studies commissioned by PAEW have identified three potential regions deemed to boast conditions suitable for the establishment of a large-scale solar project. The areas in question are: Adam/Manah/Ibri, and Sohar/Al Khabourah/Barka.
Of a total of 23 candidate sites found suitable in these three broad locations, the search has since been narrowed down to two sites in the Adam/Manah area and one in the Ibri area. Another site in Al Khabourah has been deemed suitable only if integrated with a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant (CCGT).
"Manah Site 1 is ranked the highest and is considered an excellent site location for a stand-alone large-scale solar power plant," OPWP said in its findings. "The solar insolation for Manah Site 1 is rated between 6.47-6.85 kWh/m2/day. Adam Site 2 has ranked second with a solar insolation rating of 6.61 kWh/m2/day. Ibri Site 1 is ranked third highest overall with a solar insolation rating of 6.26kW/m2/day.
Both Adam Site 2 and Ibri Site 1 are also considered excellent for a stand-alone large scale solar power plant. Al Khabourah Site 1 with the lowest overall ranking has an insolation rating of 6.18 kWh/m2/day.
The topsoil conditions for all sites appear stable and sufficient for solar facilities construction."
OPWP has been actively engaged in the collection of solar insolation data from two dedicated weather stations located at Adam and Manah together with dust monitoring located in Manah.
An array of sophisticated sensors installed at the sites are designed to measure a number of parameters required for the solar power project: Direct Normal Irradiance), Global Horizontal Irradiance, Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance, atmospheric pressure, dust, dry bulb temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, ground temperature and soil temperature. One Dust Sampler has also been installed close to the Adam site.
MUSCAT -- Authorities overseeing the Sultanate's maiden foray into large-scale renewable energy development are progressing studies designed to pinpoint an ideal location for the establishment of the country's first major solar power project.
The government-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), which has been playing a key role in, among other things, the study of suitable sites for the project, says it is continuing to evaluate data collected from monitoring equipment set up at potential locations.
Earlier this week, the state-run procurer published solar insolation data and other related information, for the benefit of potential developers and investors looking for opportunities linked to the establishment of the solar power project, as well as a wider solar-based industry in the Sultanate.
"The objective of this publication is to offer the opportunity for all parties that are interested in the Solar Project in the Sultanate of Oman, whether for development, investment, or other purposes to receive an update of data collection progress and to allow for further analysis and interpretation of the raw data provided. OPWP has also provided its own interpretation of the data for review, and is open to feedback from interested parties," the procurer said.
A clear mandate from the Council of Ministers for the implementation of the solar power project, with a net output ranging from 100-200 MW, is still awaited. However, at its meeting last November the Council directed the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) "to complete studying the technical and economic aspects for utilising solar energy in power generation and encourage the private sector to invest in this important field".
Studies commissioned by PAEW have identified three potential regions deemed to boast conditions suitable for the establishment of a large-scale solar project. The areas in question are: Adam/Manah/Ibri, and Sohar/Al Khabourah/Barka.
Of a total of 23 candidate sites found suitable in these three broad locations, the search has since been narrowed down to two sites in the Adam/Manah area and one in the Ibri area. Another site in Al Khabourah has been deemed suitable only if integrated with a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Plant (CCGT).
"Manah Site 1 is ranked the highest and is considered an excellent site location for a stand-alone large-scale solar power plant," OPWP said in its findings. "The solar insolation for Manah Site 1 is rated between 6.47-6.85 kWh/m2/day. Adam Site 2 has ranked second with a solar insolation rating of 6.61 kWh/m2/day. Ibri Site 1 is ranked third highest overall with a solar insolation rating of 6.26kW/m2/day.
Both Adam Site 2 and Ibri Site 1 are also considered excellent for a stand-alone large scale solar power plant. Al Khabourah Site 1 with the lowest overall ranking has an insolation rating of 6.18 kWh/m2/day.
The topsoil conditions for all sites appear stable and sufficient for solar facilities construction."
OPWP has been actively engaged in the collection of solar insolation data from two dedicated weather stations located at Adam and Manah together with dust monitoring located in Manah.
An array of sophisticated sensors installed at the sites are designed to measure a number of parameters required for the solar power project: Direct Normal Irradiance), Global Horizontal Irradiance, Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance, atmospheric pressure, dust, dry bulb temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, ground temperature and soil temperature. One Dust Sampler has also been installed close to the Adam site.
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
