Qatar’s solar energy projects: Green energy in heart of desert
The Peninsula
Doha: Amid the numerous global challenges related to climate change, exploring new sources of clean and enduring energy is the holy grail of all natio...
Doha: Amid the numerous global challenges related to climate change, exploring new sources of clean and enduring energy is the holy grail of all nations.
In this direction, the State of Qatar has pursued an ambitious strategy in the path toward new and renewable energies, mostly solar energy as an easy-to-access natural source.
The nation has embarked on carrying out behemoth projects, thereby reflecting its national orientation toward a green economy to reduce reliance on biofuel, an approach that reflects concrete steps toward achieving the environmental and energy objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar had set targets under the Second National Development Strategy (2018-2022) and the National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (2021-2030), including producing 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent, and investing in solar energy storage research and grid integration projects.
One of Qatar’s flagship renewable energy projects is the Al Kharsaah solar power plant west of Doha. With a production capacity of 800 megawatts across 10 square kilometers and equipped with more than 1.8 million solar panels, the plant supplies electricity to roughly 60,000 homes.
