The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) recently hosted in collaboration with GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO) the inaugural meeting of the GSO Technical Committee for Renewable Energy and Power Storage Technologies (GSO-TC13) in Doha.
The two-day meeting held at the Movenpick Hotel was attended by members from various GCC countries.
In his opening address, Dr Yousef al-Horr, founding chairman, GORD, said, “Organising such committees between the GCC states is beyond doubt very beneficial as it will facilitate improving the codes and specifications of materials and systems related to renewable energy and hence, its performance in our region’s climate.”
The GSO-TC13 members reviewed the topics presented by each state and discussed the action plan for regional standardisation in the field of renewable energy technologies and energy storage.
Members also discussed the latest developments in this regard at the international level and shared regional case studies with a discussion “on their outcomes and learnings” in the relevant field.
A five-year action plan has been developed by the committee for its future projects in compliance with the international and regional standards.
Al-Horr praised the achievements and contributions from the GCC states that were presented during the meeting and shared the recent research projects in “dual solar thermal and solar panels” undertaken by GORD, representing Qatar in the committee.
Abdul Aziz Shuweir, representative of the Standardisation Organisation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) endorsed the importance of the GSO-TC13 and its role in standardising regional specifications and assured that GSO was ready to support the technical committee to carry out the tasks assigned to it in line with the objectives of the member states to maximise the use of renewable energy sources.
Following the first day of the meeting, a number of field visits were arranged for the members of the committee. They first visited Technohub — located at the Qatar Science & Technology Park, where Dr Essam al-Sarrag, director (Research) at GORD, briefed them about the various research projects related to renewable energy.
They also visited Texas A&M University at Qatar campus to see two of their research projects — Smart Grid Center and the Sustainable Energy and Clean Air Research Laboratory.
Participants of the GSO Technical Committee for Renewable Energy and Power Storage Technologies (GSO-TC13) inspecting a solar panel facility in Doha during their field trip.
