Oman Looks For More Wind Power Projects at Long Coastline

The Sultanate of Oman is assessing the long coastal parts of Sadah in Dhofar Governorate and Ras Madrakah in Al Wusta Governorate for the development of wind farm projects. This is being viewed as part of the drive of Oman Government to step up the development of renewable energy to raise green energy in the country’s energy mix.

Two areas are already assessed – Duqm in Al Wusta Governorate and Jalaan Bani Bu Ali in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate – that expect new investments in wind farm projects.

The Oman Government has set a target to have at least 10 per cent of its electricity coming from renewable sources by 2025 and subsequently raising it to 39 per cent by 2040.

State-owned procurement entity Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) is overlooking the process of identification of suitable locations for both wind and solar power farms. The organisation is the only purchaser of electricity produced from these projects.

OPWP, which belongs to the Nama Group, held that it is moving ahead in its efforts for Wind Resource Assessment. In the recently published Annual Report, 2021, OPWP, said, “OPWP has successfully completed Phase I of Wind Resource Assessment monitoring stations at Duqm (SEZAD) and Jalaan Bani Bu Ali sites and successfully commissioned Phase II in November 2021 in Ras Madrakah and Sadah sites.”

It also said, “The new stations will continue to collect the data for a period of at least a year. The ground data will be used to assess the feasibility of future wind projects in Oman. It serves as part of the implementation of the renewable energy development plan.”

Nama Group said that the process for selecting developers for Duqm and Jalaan Bani Bu Ali could start within this year. At present, Oman has its sole 50 MW commercial-scale wind project at Harweel. It is being operated by the Rural Areas Electricity Company  which is also owned by Nama Group. The project has 13-turbines which is helping Oman in reducing gas-based power generation.