MUSCAT: The Oman Energy and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) plans to connect 2.66 GW of new photovoltaic and wind projects to the grid by 2027 to meet the Sultanate’s growing energy demand.
The OPWP stated in its 7-Year Assertion for the 2021-2027 interval that two photovoltaic initiatives, each with a capacity of 500 MW, will be realised in the Al Dhakiliyah Governorate. The Manah I Photovoltaic and Manah II Photovoltaic IPPs, as the initiatives are known, are expected to start operating in the second and third quarters of 2024, respectively.
Oman already boasts its first grid-connected large-scale photovoltaic park, the 500-MW Ibri II IPP in Al Dhahirah Governorate.
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According to OPWP’s plans, a new photovoltaic venture, MIS Photovoltaic IPP 2025, with a capacity of 500 MW, will be built, and sites for the park’s development are being considered. Within the Al Wusta area, a fifth photovoltaic (PV) project with a capacity of 600 MW could be created. It will be put into service in 2027.
Furthermore, a feasibility study will be conducted in the event of a concentrated solar energy (CSP) project with thermal storage, which would most likely be located near Duqm.
A variety of large-scale activities are included in OPWP’s wind energy growth strategy. A 100-MW wind project is planned for Jalan Bani bu Ali in the North Sharqiyah Governorate, near Duqm, with commissioning scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
The Dhofar region offers ideal conditions for wind energy technology, and OPWP wants to build a new 100-MW wind project to complement the existing 49.4-MW Dhofar I Wind IPP, which was Oman’s first grid-connected wind park. The Dhofar II Wind IPP is scheduled to begin operations in 2026.
Two additional wind projects are expected to contribute roughly 360 MW of technology to the Duqm energy system. The Duqm Wind IPP, with a planned output of 200 MW, is expected to start functioning in the third quarter of 2025, while the Duqm II Wind IPP, with a planned output of at least 160 MW, is slated to commence operations in 2027.
According to the state-owned enterprise, planned photovoltaic and wind projects are expected to provide for roughly 13% of total electrical energy production by 2025. By 2027, this percentage is expected to rise to a whopping 20%.
