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Solar Power Takes Over Muscat Governorate | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The Muscat Governorate in Oman has seen a significant increase in the use of small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems, with 114 systems now connected to the local grid by the end of 2022, compared to just 70 systems the previous year.
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This represents a year-on-year increase of over 100%, highlighting the growing use of renewables to replace gas-based electricity in public and private buildings. The Muscat Electrical Distribution Company (MEDC) reports that the installed solar system will offer 9,201 kW of production capacity by the end of 2022, up from 6,996 kW the previous year.
The Oman Vision 2020 and the National Energy Strategy have set a target for 20% of electricity to come from renewables by 2030, and MEDC is committed to supporting this goal.
The company has connected 41 solar photovoltaic systems with DC capacities of 2,276.07 kW in 2022, compared to 27 solar PV systems with AC capacities of 3,177.5 kW the previous year. Investors in small-scale PV capacity include government and private schools, shopping malls, commercial establishments, and property developers.
MEDC's Acting CEO, Salman Ali al Hattali, highlights the progress made in the rollout of automated metre readings (AMR), with around 50K smart metres installed in 2022, bringing the total up to 80K since the programme began.
Smart Transformation in Muscat's Energy Sector
This is a significant step towards smart transformation, increasing the reliance on artificial intelligence and data accuracy to give customers better insights into their consumption and billing. The implementation of AMR is expected to increase operational efficiency and reduce system losses.
Overall, the increase in small-scale PV systems and the rollout of AMR demonstrate Oman's commitment to achieving its renewable energy targets and transitioning towards a more sustainable energy future.