Qatar Launches 200-MegaWatt Solar Power Project

Doha, December 03 (QNA) - Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh Al-Sada announced Monday the launch of an eight year 200 Megawatt project to generate power from solar energy. In a press conference held today on the sidelines of COP18 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), HE Al-Sada said the project is a part of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) initiative to produce up to 200 Megawatts of electricity through the smart use of the vacant electricity and water infrastructure of Kahramaa by setting up solar panels and concentrated-solar technology systems to build up a solar power station. The power generated from this station will be making up to 2 % of Qatar s production of renewable energy by year 2020. That is a turning point at Qatar s roadmap to start using more sustainable methods to create energy, HE Minister of Energy and Industry said. HE Al Sada, said Qatar s initiative to ramp up solar power generation in the future stands on two pillars; the development of solar power technology and lowering the costs of this method. In that vein, HE the minister referred to reports showing the costs already decreasing by 40%, which is deemed a plus for Qatar and the whole world as well. He pointed out that efforts to mitigate hard climate conditions in Qatar including dust and humidity will help this project move at fast paces. Qatar pays a great attention to this project, as it enjoys long hours of daylight which is considered an advantage in this field, HE the minister of energy and industry said. He said Qatar has been working hard to mitigate climate change events through the use of various energy sources, making the best use out of the available resources, boosting production efficiency, protecting the environment, backing up power projects, and the restructuring of Qatar s energy market. Dr. Al Sada said the country is currently focusing on boosting production efficiency, and the adoption of sustainable economy. We look forward to becoming a role model in the solar power generation field, he added. Dr. Al-Sada said the hosting of COP 18 here in Doha shows the global respect Qatar is gaining and lauded all the national efforts that succeeded in getting the international support to host the UN s climate talks in Doha. This has proven the multitude of achievements that Qatar made thanks to the wise leadership that placed Qatar in a prestigious position regionally and internationally, HE Dr. Al sada concluded. (END)