Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the nation’s biggest oil and gas producer, is set to award contracts later this week for a new solar Independent Power Project (IPP), as well as a pair of wind farms, as part of its strategy to decarbonize its operations in line with Oman’s Net Zero goals.

According to a key official, the new solar PV project – dubbed North Oman Solar IPP – will be a 100 MW capacity plant similar to the groundbreaking Amin Renewable Energy Project that came into operation in May 2020. The latter venture made national history as the first utility-scale solar PV project launched in the Sultanate of Oman at the time.

Taking part in a panel discussion during the Net Zero Week Oman 2024 forum, organised by Solar Quarter Middle East last week, Mustafa al Ajmi, Renewable Energy Engineer at PDO, said the North Oman Solar IPP will come up near Qarn Alam in the central part of PDO’s Block 6 licence.

Also finalized for implementation are two wind farms, named Riyah-1 and Riyah-2 respectively of 100 MW capacity apiece – that will come up in the Nimr area in the south of PDO’s concession.

To be located not far from each other, the two wind farms are the product of a two-year wind campaign that garnered significant data on wind speeds in the area. Based on data collected by six wind masts installed around the location, it was assessed that wind speeds average a remarkable 8 metres per sec at heights of 100 metres, he stated.

Asked for a timeline for their implementation, Al Ajmi added that that all three projects are expected to be commissioned within 24 months of the contract awards.

Joining Al Ajmi in the panel discussion were Waqas Latif, Country Manager - Royal Tech Contracting LLC, and Hariprasad Gantyala, Lead, Renewables and Emerging Technologies, ONEIC. The discussion was moderated by Ahmed al Nadabi, Regulatory & Compliance General Manager, Oman Electricity Transmission Company.