Meed | PDO confirms 200MW wind projects

PDO confirms 200MW wind projects

1 July 2024

State-backed Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has launched three renewable energy plant projects to support its target for 30% of its power capacity to come from renewable sources by 2026 and 50% by 2030.

PDO’s 2023 Sustainability Report, released in late June, said that bid evaluation is under way for two wind power projects, each with a capacity of 100MW.

The Riyah-1 and Riyah-2 wind farm projects are located at Amin and Nimr West, respectively.

According to PDO, it floated the request for proposal documents for Riyah-1 and Riyah-2 in April 2023.

It is evaluating the technical and commercial bids for the two projects, according to its 2023 Sustainability Report.

The two facilities are expected to be completed by Q2 2026.

PDO also plans to develop a 100MW solar independent power project (IPP). Known as the North Solar IPP, the project will use a photovoltaic (PV) single-axis tracking system.

Photo: Miraah solar plant (PDO)

“The developer will be encouraged to optimise the design of the plant and offer the lowest tariffs for the delivery of electrical energy at the delivery point,” PDO said.

The plant will be located close to Saih Nihayda, next to Qarn Alam airport, in the northern region of Oman, approximately 170 kilometres south of Nizwa.

It is due to come on stream in Q4 2025.

PDO envisages the North Solar IPP to replicate the success of its landmark 100MW Amin PV power plant, which started commercial operations in May 2020 and was commissioned three months ahead of schedule.

“The IPP near Nimr provides power to our interior operations and is the world’s first utility-scale solar project to have an oil and gas company as the sole buyer of electricity,” said PDO.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo