New target for green energy

A NEW target has been set to have 10 per cent of renewable energy directed into the national power grid by 2035.

Bahrain’s current plan is to have five per cent directed into the grid by 2025, but Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday said that half of this has already been achieved.

He said this was due to innovative ideas, willingness among the population and the fact that the cost of renewable energy has dropped by 80pc since 2014, making it a strong viable option.

He was speaking at a Press conference following a session on the Fiscal Balance Programme, which was held as part of the Government Forum 2018.

“Our target now is to have five per cent renewable energy in the national grid by 2025 and we have already reached 50pc of that,” said Dr Mirza.

“This gives us a new target to focus on and that’s having 10pc by 2035 as we shift to

this viable option that is cost-saving, effective and environmental-friendly.

“What we have achieved in two years shows how efficient our plans are, despite limitations that other neighbouring countries are not facing.

“We have limited spaces while others in the region have vast land for solar panels mainly and wind turbines on a lower scale, but that didn’t stop us from reaching 50pc of the five per cent in just one year as we thought of innovative ideas that have seen us use rooftops and lampposts.”

Dr Mirza said more ambitious programmes were in the pipeline at the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in a bid to reduce costs and increase revenues.

“We are going to balance the EWA sheet in 2022 by reducing costs and increasing revenues as we change the way we produce water and electricity through more reliable equipment and raising conservation schemes,” he explained.

“Conventional electricity production is 100pc dependent on natural gas and projections clearly indicate that its prices are going higher and higher in the future.

“So, we have to take a new approach as we stop receiving any financial support from the government and become self-dependent.

“Solar energy prices are in reduction as more across the world are adopting it and we see it as a long-term platform for us to build on.”

The Government Forum was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Isa Cultural Centre.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/428081