Qatar has at last joined the ranks of Gulf solar energy producers. The start-up of the first 400MW phase of the Al Kharsaah solar PV plant means that Qatar has joined the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman in running a sizeable utility-scale solar project. By the end of the year, the plan is for Al Kharsaah to reach full 800MW capacity, and Qatar also aims to move ahead with two new 400MW solar projects.
In January 2020, the Siraj JV of Qatar’s QEWC (60%) and Qatar Energy (40%), awarded a consortium of Marubeni (51%) and TotalEnergies (49%) the development contract for the plant (MEES, 24 January 2020). The facility will be operated by the Siraj 1 SPV which groups the four firms together, with state offtaker Kahramaa taking electricity through a 25-year power purchase agreement. Switzerland-based Hitachi ABB Power Grid was awarded the contract to provide a 220kV grid connection solution for the Al Kharsaah solar project. (CONTINUED - 451 WORDS)
