BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: Qatar yesterday unveiled the first-of-its-kind solar technology development and panel manufacturing facility in the New Industrial Area.
Qatar Solar Energy (QSE), the integrated facility, is the largest in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, to generate 300MW a year.
Reyad Fezzani, QSE board member, also announced plans to expand the capacity to 1 gigawatt (1,000MW), which would be enhanced to produce 2.5GW annually. A massive reduction in prices of raw materials, especially silicon, and technological advancements have made solar power price competitive compared to non-renewable energy, said Dr Kamal Ounadjela, another board member.
“Constant improvements in solar technology and sharp fall in the price of silicon (a primary raw material used to manufacture wafers for solar modules) — to about $20 per kg from nearly $400 a kg in 2008, have helped bring unit cost of solar energy closer to non-renewables,” he said.
Dr Ounadjela was speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of a media tour of the facility.
QSE also inked agreements with Jermyn Capital to supply 150MW of solar power solutions to the Japanese market and with Power Capital to supply 150MW of power solutions to the Thailand market. QSE was chosen as the solar provider of choice for its ability to deliver higher efficiency solutions at lower costs with plans to work together with both companies on solar power initiatives.
Fezzani said: “In this research-cum-manufacturing facility, we are not only producing one of the best products in the world, but also constantly focusing on improving technology and efficiency which cover more than just solar energy.
“Solar energy is now global. It is being produced at a cost competitive point for consumers. It is growing at a very fast pace across the world, including developed and developing countries. We feel that Mena is at a critical point of transition from studying and understating to the possibility of implementation and execution, and this facility is part of that.”
In a statement, QSE said environmental activist Robert F Kennedy Jr and Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Chairperson of UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, spoke during the event earlier.
“QSE is dedicated to democratising sustainable energy by delivering environmentally responsible solutions to the world’s pressing energy challenges. By lowering the cost, our technology will empower individuals and businesses with affordable electricity in developed and emerging markets,” said Salim Abbassi, CEO, QSE. “This is a significant milestone for Qatar and proves that the region can be on the leading edge of an industry that will secure sustainable energy for future generations.”
To further improve cost and efficiency, QSE is collaborating with leading solar energy technology companies having ingot, wafer, cell, module, and deployment technologies.
QSE is manufacturing patented innovative products for sun-belt regions.
The Peninsula
