Qatar renews support for renewable energy at upcoming summit

Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation) is responsible for the country's alternative and renewable energy development with an estimated investment of $125bn.

The company has also started developing a 150 to 200 MW solar power generation unit by utilising the unused areas in its grid stations and water stations.

"Alternative and renewable energy is one of Kahramaa's strategic and main interests for providing Qatar with a sustainable power supply. Alternative and renewable energy is the main part of our new smart and intelligent grid that we are building for the future," said His Excellency Engineer Essa Bin Hilal Al Kuwari, President of Kahramaa.

As part of the company's continued commitment to the cause, His Excellency is also opening the 4th Annual Qatar Alternative Energy Investors Summit. The two-day platform will be held on March 24th and 25th in Doha.

While various alternative and renewable energy sources are being tested across the region, solar power, due to obvious geographical advantages, has emerged as the one technology being employed in most MENA countries.

Recent reports indicate that the solar market alone in the region could reach 3.5 GW annually by 2015. Yet, as His Excellency has noted in the past, the potential of solar energy should not mean other resources like wind, biomass and nuclear energy are ignored. Dr Rabi Mohtar, Executive and Founding Director, QEERI, is also be speaking at the summit and will highlight what the future holds for renewable energy in the GCC countries.

Organised by Naseba and supported by Qatar Energy and Environment Institute (QEERI), the summit is bringing together 200 of the region's key energy stakeholders to discuss business with leading international solution providers. Energy solution and service providers participating at the summit include First Solar, GoSolar, Patriot Solar, L&T and Enolia Premium Capital.

Other experts speaking during the two days include Dr Saif Ali Al-Hajari, Former Vice-Chair of Qatar Foundation, Founder and Chair of the Friends of Environment Center, Dr Radovan Kopecek, Director, International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz and Prof Taha Ouarda, Head of Masdar Institute Water and Environment Programme, MASDAR.