Sustainability is key word in Qatar’s growth and development therefore all state institutions are eagerly designing and successfully implementing environmentally-friendly models in all development projects.
As different mega projects in Qatar are following green practices, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) too implementing various initiatives meant to address global issue of climate change.
With a continued and successful execution of National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), Kahramaa is now all set to launch Qatar’s first solar power project. Kahramaa has received five bids from international developers qualified for the first solar power project in Qatar to produce electricity by using photovoltaic technology, which was offered by the public-private partnership system, where Kahramaa reviews and evaluates technical, legal and commercial offers.
The West Doha Solar Power Plant project is being built near the Al Kharsa’a district with an area of 10 square kilometers, where the total capacity of the solar power project is estimated at least 700 MW, out of which 350 MW will be connected to the grid in the first quarter of 2021 and commercial operation will begin in the first quarter of 2022.
Kahramaa has already qualified 16 of the world’s leading companies to establish and develop solar power plants, where bids were received from companies and alliances from France, Japan, South Korea and China, demonstrating the strength and attractiveness of the Qatari market and the interest of international companies in the partnership.
The plant is part of the company’s plans to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency by diversifying sources of electricity production, besides increasing the proportion of renewable energy, in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership to reduce dependence on oil and gas in the economic activities of the State to achieve economic diversification and in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 within the pillars of economic development and environmental development, to diversify sources of electricity production and increase the proportion of renewable energy.
According to an earlier report of April this year, Tarsheed has made a financial saving of QR1.75bn in 2018 by reducing the consumption of electricity, water and gas. Tarsheed programme in 2018 significantly resulted in reduction of electricity consumption of 6295 GWh, water consumption of 33.22 million m3 and natural gas consumption of 60642MCF (million cubic feet) in 2018.
Tarsheed programme aims to reduce per capita electricity consumption by 6 percent, water by 10 percent, and harmful carbon emissions by 7 percent until 2022.
Kahramaa is striving to inculcate and create awareness of conservation and energy efficiency in all sectors to reduce the per capita consumption of water and electricity and carbon emissions.
