The Rural Areas Electricity Company which is spearheading the potential use of renewable energy for electricity generation in remote areas of the country is currently undertaking 6 pilot projects in partnership with private sector developers.
Mr Hamed bin Salim al Maghderi GM of the state owned electricity distribution firm said that the small scale projects range in capacities from a mere 200 kW to 3.5 MW and are based on solar and wind energy.
Mr Al Maghderi said that the renewable pilot schemes were among a number of initiatives launched by RAECO to strengthen electricity supply in areas unserved by the country’s two main grids the Main Interconnected System and Salalah System.
He said that the six projects were shortlisted from a total of over 36 pilot proposals submitted by private developers for tapping Oman’s solar and wind energy resources for electricity generation. The selected projects have been distributed across the governorates falling within RAECO’s expansive and scattered licensed area.
While the largest of the six pilots is a 3 MW solar based project in located in Haima in Wusta Governorate, the smallest is a 200 kW thermal energy based system under development at Mahout on the Wusta coast. Two wind energy based pilots, each of 3 MW capacity have been located at Masirah and Thamrait. The other two projects, both solar linked are located in Musandam and Wusta Governorates.
Depending upon their viability and efficiency, RAECO will consider harnessing renewable energy to supplement electricity generation in far flung areas of the country unserved by existing distribution grids. Based on the performance of these pilots, RAECO could also consider building hybrid systems combining both diesel powered and solar based generation.
RAECO currently operates around 47 diesel fired power plants to produce electricity for villages and towns situated outside the main grids. With electricity demand escalating at a hefty 13% annually, the company is keenly looking at renewables to supplement electricity production.
RAECO’s licensed area extends from Musandam in the north of Oman, through the Interior and to the south but excludes the concession areas of Dhofar Power Company SAOG in Salalah and the jurisdictions of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company, Mazoon Electricity Company and Majan Electricity Company. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Electricity Holding Company SAOC.
(Sourced from main.omanobserver.om)
