Bahrain's mall installs 250kW solar energy system

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A SOLAR energy system that is capable of producing around 250 kilowatts of power has been installed in a multi-storey car park at The Avenues.

A total of 880 solar panels were installed by Mohammed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau in a record period of only four days, it was announced yesterday.

The car park complex has also been connected to the Net Metering system, which calculates units produced from solar energy and deducts them from the monthly electricity bill.

Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza conducted an inspection visit as the solar energy system was installed, during which he was briefed on the progress of the project.

“This is a good example for the private sector in terms of helping achieve the government’s national target of five per cent for renewable energy by 2025,” said Dr Mirza in a statement issued yesterday.

“The more we use solar energy for water and electricity the more we can save up on gas which can go to other more vital projects.

“I encourage all other malls and private enterprises to make use of the solar energy available in Bahrain, which is now more cheaply available than before.”

The complex management expressed their gratitude to the minister and other officials for their support and for providing all possible assistance in the implementation of the project.

The GDN reported last month that a proposal to compulsorily install solar panels by 2020 on all new government homes and projects carried out by the private sector through the Housing Ministry has been presented by Bahrain’s three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board.

Under the scheme, homeowners will have to pay BD3,500 to install the panels, but this money can be recovered in the form of long-term energy savings.

The Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry has already introduced the technology at a government home in Jidhafs in April in co-ordination with the Housing Ministry.

Owners are able to reduce energy bills by producing their own solar power and then charge the Electricity and Water Authority for excess energy pumped back into the grid.

ghazi@gdn.com.bh

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