French energy management specialist Energy Pool has announced that it has been tapped by Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (Nama PWP) – the single procurer of power and water capacity and output in the Sultanate of Oman – to undertake a key study designed to support the development of a resilient energy system for the country.

The Demand Response (DR) Study has three broad objectives: It aims to address Oman’s growing electricity demand, facilitate the integration of renewable energy and support the country’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Commenting on its appointment, the company stated: “Energy Pool is committed to collaborating with PWP to deliver a comprehensive report, outlining recommendations for the design, implementation and governance of a DR programme. Through this collaboration, we aim to contribute significantly to the development of a more sustainable and resilient energy future for Oman.”

The term, ‘Demand Response’, applies to initiatives designed to help balance the demand on power grids by encouraging end-users to shift electricity demand to times of the day – or season - when electricity availability is plentiful. This is typically achieved via tariff or other monetary incentives.

In Oman, the disparity is particularly steep, with electricity demand spiking significantly during the day as air-conditioning systems are turned on, and also during the hot summer months of the year.

The introduction of Cost Reflective Tariffs (CRT) in 2017 helped somewhat mitigate this severe imbalance, but not nearly enough to offset the high cost of maintaining large generation capacities and spinning reserves to meet any sudden uptick in power demand.

Of late, with the advent of new technology, notably smart grids and energy storage, experts see the potential for Demand Response measures to help address intermittency issues linked to supply from renewables. As electricity demand grows, Demand Response initiatives can contribute significantly to stability and reliability of power grids, it is pointed out.

“The scope of this study encompasses an in-depth analysis of the country's energy landscape to identify opportunities for optimising grid operations through effective DR programmes. By leveraging global best practices and conducting in-depth research, Energy Pool will develop tailored DR mechanisms to reduce peak demand and enhance grid reliability,” the French company explained.

Billed as one of the pioneers of the French electricity flexibility market since 2009, Energy Pool is a key player in the energy transition, providing services and advanced software solutions for the management and optimisation of complex energy systems.

The company presently manages consumption, production and storage assets of over 8 GW in capacity, located in 15 countries distributed across Europe, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and South East Asia.