DOHA: Qatar, as part of its environmental commitment and sustainable development, is turning to renewable sources of energy such as solar power, with initiatives already underway, Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, President, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) said in his opening address at the Solar Qatar Summit yesterday.
More than 300 experts from around the world are attending the summit being held here under Al Kuwari’s patronage.
The opening day included a presentation by Saleh Hamad Al Marri, Head, Renewable Energy Technologies Section, Kahramaa, on the corporation’s plans for solar energy projects.
The Qatar-based Qatar Solar Energy (SQE) has launched the largest plant in the Middle East. In his presentation, Salim Abbassi, CEO, QSE, highlighted their manufacturing facility which is producing two types of high-efficiency crystalline modules.
It will also produce bifacial solar modules to produce additional energy from the back side of the modules using reflected sun rays.
In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the facility aims to reduce Qatar’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Speakers from the world over are participating in the two-day event to discuss developments in the renewable energy sector.
Professor Eicke R Weber, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, ISE, the largest solar energy institute in Europe, spoke about the role solar energy plays in global energy transformation.
Another presentation was given by Omran Al Kuwari, CEO, GreenGulf, who disclosed the first-year findings of the Solar Test Facility at QSTP.
Abdulla Hassan Al Meshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties; Bradley Jason Horn, Senior Renewable Energy Analyst, New Energy Department, Qatar Petroleum; Salah S Nezar, Sustainability Director, Qatar Project Management; Mohuiddin Sami Jamaleddin, Senior Architect & Senior Urban Planner, Ministry of Municipality, also addressed the gathering.
Today, Mohamed Nagib Omara, Technical Adviser to the President of Kahramaa, will speak on positioning of solar energy in Mena; Qatar Green Building Council on the Passivhaus Experiment and Implications for Retrofitting PV; Carlos St James, Chairman, Middle East-Americas Energy Council will provide a perspective on solar energy in the Americas and cross points with Qatar; and Dr Amer Aladhadh, Economic Development Adviser, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, will talk about PPP and infrastructure development.
Leading innovators showcasing solutions include GT Advanced Technologies, Monsson, Al Qamra Holding Group, Project Navigator, GreenGulf, Altius Fotovoltaic and Yazaki Energy.
The US-based Dow Chemical Company is participating as an associate sponsor to share its expertise in advanced heat transfer fluid technology for concentrated solar power.
The Peninsula
