Latest reports show that the Sultanate made extensive efforts to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the production of power. The Sultanate will invest $2.9 billion in 13 water and electricity projects which will be completed by 2014.
This comes as part of the government's approach to produce 10 per cent of electricity needs from renewable energy by 2020.
A media report about Oman Environment Exhibition and Conference 2013 (Gulf-Eco), due to be held from January 20 to 22, 2013 at Oman International Exhibition Centre, said that the Sultanate is focusing on an approach to utilise solar power and wind energy to diminish dependence on oil and gas.
Reports indicate that the Sultanate has invested in centres of solar power, as well as two wind power stations having a capacity of 3 megawatts in Masirah and Thamrait.
Oman Environment Exhibition and Conference 2013 will be organised by Oman International Trade and Exhibition company under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs. The conference to be held on the sidelines of the exhibition will discuss many options to use renewable energy in the Sultanate.
Renewable energy is generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. About 16 per cent of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10 per cent coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating and 3.4 per cent from hydroelectricity.
The MENA region has the world's greatest potential for solar power generation, offering 45 per cent of the world's total energy potential from all renewable sources. If the region achieved this potential, it could generate more than three times the world's total current power demand. The region also has some potential for large-scale wind farms.
The region's current energy supply may not be sufficient to meet future demand: At present, the MENA region has 146 gigawatts of installed capacity for electricity generation. Renewables could play a major role in meeting increasing demand and could complement the region's unique energy needs.
Renewables in the region will help mitigate the global climate change challenge. Renewables could help address the region's other environmental problems. Renewables could generate value in their own right, as well as freeing oil and gas for more profitable uses. If renewable energy sources could replace the oil or gas currently used for power generation, the surpluses developed could become available for more profitable downstream applications.
Oman Daily Observer
14 December
