Renewable energy projects in Bahrain reviewed
Manama, June 28 (BNA): Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) President, Dr. Abdulhussain bin Ali Mirza, chaired the 23rd meeting of National Committee for the implementation of and follow up on the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) and National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), held remotely, with the participation of members, and the Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme to Bahrain.
Dr. Mirza reviewed the latest developments since the committee’s previous meeting in April, most notably the positive outcomes of the recently-launched tenders of several pioneering solar energy projects, such as the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC)'s tender to install solar energy systems on car park roofs to produce about 3 megawatts of clean energy,
He also revealed the latest SEA-supported renewable energy projects, such as the Majid Al Futtaim project to install the largest central solar energy system with a maximum production capacity of 6.2 megawatts on the Bahrain Mall.
He also informed the session about the progress of the projects to install solar energy on the roofs of the buildings of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and other government departments.
He also briefed the meeting about SEA’s efforts to cooperate with the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to implement the Green Building Code, and its guide for classifying green buildings.
He also highlighted SEA’s discussions with the private sector companies and the important joint cooperation agreements it has signed, the most prominent of which was the cooperation agreement with the Union Energy Company to support renewable energy projects and attract investments to solar energy projects, in particular because of their promising potential and proven feasibility.
The session featured a presentation by SEA about the progress of the preparation of its strategic plan for electric vehicles, and another by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism on specifications and requirements of electric vehicles, which are scheduled to come into force on July 28, 2021, in preparation for a qualitative shift and sustainable transportation strategies, and their important economic and environmental dimensions.
The meeting also touched upon the developments of the adoption of the national policies for central cooling, which will be regulated by SEA, as per the orders of the Ministerial Committee for Construction and Infrastructure. These policies aim to benefit from technologies and solutions to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases emitted from cooling.
Regarding efforts to benefit from the unused spaces for solar energy projects, the committee reviewed a number of proposals and recommendations, and agreed to discuss the feasibility of continuing to use a number of them in cooperation with government agencies that fall within their powers of these spaces and in line with established plans and strategies.
The committee also discussed the developments of the 100MW Bahrain solar plant, the developments of the renewable energy award, proposals for projects to be funded by benefiting from global financing packages supporting renewable energy projects, and the developments of the GCC guide for renewable energy projects’ standards and requirements, which the Kingdom works through its representatives in the GCC Renewable Energy Committee to prepare and approve it.
