 |
| |
Qatar Doubles Down On Solar Energy Expansion | |
| Sumita Pawar |
According to the news, QatarEnergy is working on two new solar power plants with a combined capacity of 880 MW, which will be operational within the next two years.
QatarEnergy is a state-owned petroleum company in Qatar. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport, and storage.
 |
The President and CEO is Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs. The company's operations are directly linked with state planning agencies, regulatory authorities, and policymaking bodies.
QatarEnergy’s Revenue Over the Years
Together, revenues from oil and natural gas amount to 60% of the country's GDP. As of 2018, it was the third-largest oil company in the world by oil and gas reserves.
In 2020, the company had total revenues of US$21 billion, a net income of US$7.9 billion, and total assets of US$116 billion. In 2021, QatarEnergy will be the fifth-largest gas company in the world.
The first plant, Al Kharsaah Solar PV Power Plant (KSPP), is already operational, and the subsequent power plants will be situated in Mesaieed and Ras Laffan.
Mohamad Al Harami from KSPP of QatarEnergy said, "The Al Kharsaah Solar PV Power Plant (KSPP) is a big step forward in diversifying the ways that electricity is made in the country."
He added, "The two projects, which will see the light of day within two years from now, will add value to the Qatari renewable energy sector.
KSPP is very important in that it has provided great experience in producing solar power with a complete network of renewable energy feeding the national electricity grid. Before the establishment of the KSPP, Qatar was fully dependent on gas and steam-powered turbines to produce electricity, Al Harami elaborated.
KSPP was built on a 10 square kilometre area and is one of the largest solar power plants in the region, sporting over 1.8 million solar panels that make use of sun tracking technology to maximise efficiency.
The plant also uses robots and treated water to clean the solar panels at night. The new solar power plants form part of Qatar’s commitment to transition to clean energy and its updated sustainability strategy, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, deploying carbon capture and storage technology, and reducing the carbon intensity of its LNG facilities.