What is Qatar's Solar Energy Future?

Qatar’s solar energy future is steadily developing. With average daily sunshine of around 9.5 hours, low-cloud cover conditions and plentiful space, there is great scope for small, medium as well as large-scale solar power projects in the country.

Is Qatar a good country for solar power?

With average daily sunshine of around 9.5 hours, low-cloud cover conditions and plentiful space, there is great scope for small, medium as well as large-scale solar power projects in the country. Qatar’s global horizontal irradiance is 2,140 kWh per m 2 per year which makes it well-suited for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

How many solar PV projects are there in Qatar?

The installed capacity of solar power generation in Qatar was recorded as 5.1MW, as of 2020, which is far from the required targets to have a considerable share of renewables in the energy mix. Thus umpteen solar PV projects are lined up to boost the capacity in the nation.

Why is solar power important for Qatar?

Harnessing solar power has become an important objective for Qatar in recent years. By 2030, Qatar has set the goal of attaining 20% of its energy from solar power. The country is well-positioned to capitalize on photovoltaic systems, as it has a global horizontal irradiance value of approximately 2,140 kWh per square meter annually.

How to develop solar power in Qatar?

Currently, efforts have focused on developing solar capacity in the country through research centers, universities, utilities and pilot projects, and a number of institutions including Kahramaa, Qatar Foundation, QNFSP and QSTP are actively working on this front.

Will Qatar install solar panels on a redundant roof?

To make up for Qatar’s space constraints, the company plans to install solar panels on redundant surfaces such as roofs of power stations and water reservoirs, thereby utilizing existing power transmission lines which will substantially reduced construction costs.