A strategic plan for “Electricity” to provide 20% of clean energy by 2035

Local affairs editor

The Electricity and Water Authority has developed a strategy and aggressive plans to achieve the energy transformation plan formulated in 2023, which is a road map for the transition to more sustainable energy sources, including utilizing solar energy to produce electrical energy. The Authority has developed a number of executive plans to achieve this sustainable development goal in energy production. The plan aims to reduce natural gas consumption by more than 30% by 2040, meet more than 45% of energy demand from clean sources, reduce carbon emissions by 5% by 2025, increase renewable energy sources, reduce carbon emissions and security of supply through diversification and cost improvement. It also seeks to provide 20% of clean energy by 2035, with an advanced strategy and plans for renewable energy sources.

The energy transformation plan is one of the future projects that the Authority is happy to achieve. It was formulated in 2023, and it serves as a road map for the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources. The Authority emphasizes its keenness to diversify energy sources, reduce carbon emissions, and improve costs by enhancing efficiency in energy production.

Information published on the Authority’s website for the transformation project indicates that demand in the Kingdom is expected to reach 28 terawatt-hours by 2040, which is more than 40% of the demand in 2023. The plan, which was finalized in November 2023, includes a timetable of goals and expectations for electricity demand and requirements to meet it until 2040, with a vision for the future of sustainable energy.

Among the future plans that the Authority has developed within its future projects is the establishment of a number of solar energy stations. Among these projects is the Al-Dur solar power station project, with an expected capacity of 100 megawatts, and it comes within the national goals of diversifying and sustaining energy sources, and achieving the comprehensive goals of the energy transition plan, as the project includes 135,000 solar panels.

Other projects include the establishment of a photovoltaic energy field at the University of Bahrain, with a capacity of 46.2 megawatts, in line with the power purchase agreement. The Authority will act as the sole investor in this initiative, which includes the Build, Own, Operate and Maintenance (BOOM) model for the photovoltaic solar energy system. The project budget reaches 9 million dinars. The project aims to contribute to achieving national renewable energy and generation capacity goals, by integrating technology and incorporating the latest technologies to achieve optimal performance throughout the life of the project.

The project to establish an independent solar electricity production station in Blaj Al-Jazair is one of the future projects, such as a new solar photovoltaic farm by the private sector, with a build, own and operate system. The project operates as photovoltaic solar energy units with an independent power production system (IPP) in addition to the energy production system, including the work of integrating the farm with the electricity transmission network of the Electricity and Water Authority. The new solar power plant will enhance total energy production, to meet the increasing demand for electricity as a result of population growth in Bahrain and the expansion of new residential, commercial and investment projects. Commercial operation is scheduled to begin by mid-2027, as the Authority has contracted with a consulting company to evaluate the project requirements and draft a request for proposals.