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Bahrain talks to neighbours about solar project

3 April 2023

 

Bahrain is in talks with multiple governments about its planned cross-border solar project, according to Mark Thompson, chief executive of Bahrain’s state energy conglomerate Nogaholding.

In an interview, he told MEED: “We are talking to various partners who have been very cooperative.

“In our region, solar is ideal … but you just need geographic space for it. We don’t have it, but there are locations very close to us and it is very realistic that we could interconnect.”

Thompson confirmed that Bahrain is in talks with multiple governments, but declined to name them at this stage.

He said that the cross-border solar project is in the feasibility stage.

The solar project could potentially provide affordable renewable energy for 20 per cent of the kingdom’s needs, according to Thompson.

Bahrain is looking at several projects that have the potential to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

Last month, MEED reported that Bahrain is planning a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project worth around $4bn.

The project is expected to be able to sequester between 10 and 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year for at least 50 years.

In January, MEED reported that Bahrain’s Ministry of Electricity & Water Authority had received bids for the contract to build, own, operate and maintain grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) power panels with a minimum capacity of 72MW in Sakhir in the south of the kingdom.

The power plant will be located at multiple premises, including­ the Bahrain International Circuit, the University of Bahrain, the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre and the Al-Dana Amphitheatre.

The solar panels are to be built on the rooftops, car park shades, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and grounds of these organisations’ facilities. It is understood the operation and maintenance contract is for 20 years.

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Wil Crisp

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