Qatar’s vision to generate 20% of its total energy requirements through renewable sources received a boost yesterday with the inauguration of the first Solar Test Facility (STF) in the region.
The $20mn joint project by Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), GreenGulf, and Chevron Qatar was inaugurated by Qatar Foundation chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
Qatar Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Chairman HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, who is also the president of the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP18/CMP8), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres were present on the occasion.
Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Minister of Environment HE Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aaboud al-Midhadhi, and Qatar National Food Security Programme and COP18/CMP8 Organising Sub-Committee chairman Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiya were among the other dignitaries.
The 35,000sqm (7-acre) STF, located at QSTP, will test 200kW each of photovoltaic (PV), and solar thermal systems, in order to identify the most suitable solar technologies for Qatar and the region. The electricity generated from the STF will be used to power the site with excess input to Qatar Foundation grid.
A number of PV products will be evaluated, including crystalline silicon, thin film, and concentrating PV, apart from several solar thermal collectors and applications, including solar cooling and desalination.
Operating parameters such as tracking, cleaning frequencies and system scales, and the effects of heat, humidity and dust on the performance of the solar equipment will also be studied and challenges such as the efficient use of water in cleaning solar systems addressed.
The research and analysis conducted will enable QSTP, GreenGulf and Chevron to understand the technical and commercial issues of applying solar technologies for a variety of uses that currently require ample energy coming from non-renewable sources.
The inauguration of the STF has special significance as it coincides with the COP18/CMP8, which enters its final and crucial phase of high level meetings tomorrow.
Findings from the STF are expected to support Qatar’s plans to generate 1.8 gigawatts (1,800 megawatts) of solar power by 2014, as part of the vision for renewable energy.
The core activities of the STF, which will also enable students at the universities of Qatar Foundation and Qatar University to study about solar technologies through training and internship programmes, are expected to be concluded by 2015.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Dr Tidu Maini, executive chairman of QSTP, described the STF as a “living lab which would facilitate an independent evaluation of the (solar) panels’ and look at all the relevant issues”.
“Work on the other mainstream solar project in the country, the polysilicon manufacturing plant of Qatar Solar Technologies, which will initially produce 8,000 metric tonnes per year, is underway at Ras Laffan,” he pointed out.
“We are confident that this unique testing facility will provide us with data that will be able to support further development in the field,” Dr Maini added. Page 28