Oman seeks developers for 1,500MW solar power plants

Oman is seeking companies to build two solar power plants with a combined generation capacity of 1,500 megawatts.

The state-run Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP) has issued a request for qualification for Adam and Sinaw solar independent power projects.

The two projects are expected to cost OMR398 million ($1 billion), PWP said in a statement.

The OMR287 million Adam solar IPP will be located in Wilayat Adam, northeastern Oman, and include a 1,000MW solar photovoltaic plant with a battery energy storage system. The project will reduce carbon emissions by more than 1 million tonnes annually and generate 1 million International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) annually.

I-RECs certify the generation of one megawatt-hour of electricity from renewable sources. They provide a way for companies to verify their renewable energy usage.

The 500MW Sinaw solar IPP is estimated to cost OMR111 million and will be located in Wilayat Sinaw, 175km from Muscat. The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 566,600 tonnes per year while generating 500,000 I-RECs annually.

The request for qualification marks the first stage of a competitive procurement programme through which qualified developers will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the subsequent request for proposal stage.

The projects fall under the sultanate’s strategy to expand sustainable energy as part of Oman Vision 2040.

Last month PWP, the sole purchaser of electricity from independent power plants in Oman, signed a power purchase agreement with state-backed O-Green to build a non-stop renewable energy project combining wind, solar and battery storage.

Oman also recently inaugurated the Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar projects, which have a combined generation capacity of 1 gigawatt. Earlier projects included the 500MW Ibri II solar plant and the Dhofar Wind Farm, the country’s first commercial wind energy development.

The government’s updated national net-zero strategy includes a new target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2035 compared with 2024 levels.

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