Posted inRenewable Energy, Climate Change, Electricity, Features

Qatar’s first large-scale solar plant by TotalEnergies consortium signals new energy era

Al Kharsaah solar plant is not only expected to reduce Qatar’s environmental footprint but also signals a significant step towards diversifying its energy mix

The Al Kharsaah Solar plant’s inauguration in October 2022 marked a critical moment in Qatar’s shift toward renewables
The Al Kharsaah Solar plant’s inauguration in October 2022 marked a critical moment in Qatar’s shift toward renewables

Located 80 kilometers west of Doha, the Al Kharsaah Solar PV Independent Power Producer (IPP) project is a game-changer for Qatar’s energy landscape.

As the country’s first large-scale solar power plant, Al Kharsaah is not only expected to reduce Qatar’s environmental footprint but also signals a significant step towards diversifying its energy mix.

In a country traditionally reliant on natural gas, the project is a major milestone in Qatar’s broader push for sustainability and renewable energy.

The Al Kharsaah solar power plant is owned and operated by SPV Siraj, a consortium comprised of international energy giants TotalEnergies and Marubeni, which hold a 40% stake, alongside Siraj Energy, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC), which holds the remaining 60%.

The plant’s inauguration in October 2022 marked a critical moment in Qatar’s shift toward renewables, and it is expected to play a key role in the nation’s energy transition strategy.

Qatar’s vast desert landscape, coupled with its abundant sunshine, makes it an ideal location for solar energy development. The country enjoys some of the highest solar irradiance levels in the world, making solar power a logical addition to its energy portfolio.

Despite these favorable conditions, Qatar has been slower than some of its Gulf neighbors in adopting solar energy. However, the Al Kharsaah project is a clear indication that the nation is now committed to tapping into its solar potential.

Covering a massive 1,000 hectares, the Al Kharsaah solar plant is equivalent in size to about 1,400 football fields. It uses two million bifacial solar modules, which are capable of generating electricity from both sides of the panel, mounted on trackers to follow the sun’s movement. The advanced technology allows the plant to optimise power output throughout the day, significantly increasing its overall efficiency. The installation of 3,240 string inverters further enhances the plant’s performance, ensuring that maximum power is extracted from each module.

One of the key features of the Al Kharsaah plant is its semi-automated cleaning system, designed to remove the accumulation of dust and sand from the solar panels. In a desert environment like Qatar’s, these elements can drastically reduce the efficiency of solar panels if not regularly cleaned. The system operates every four days, ensuring that the panels remain in optimal condition for power generation.

The Al Kharsaah solar power plant has a total capacity of 800 megawatts-peak (MWp), developed in two phases of 400 MWp each. In its first year of operation, the plant is projected to generate around two million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, enough to power approximately 55,000 Qatari households. More significantly, once fully operational, the plant is expected to meet 10% of the country’s peak electricity demand.

Qatar continues to experience rapid economic growth and a rising population. The country has long relied on its vast reserves of natural gas to fuel its power generation needs, but the government recognizes the importance of diversifying its energy mix in order to maintain long-term energy security and reduce its environmental impact.

Beyond its contribution to Qatar’s energy needs, the Al Kharsaah project is also expected to have a profound environmental impact. Over its operational lifetime, the plant is forecasted to reduce Qatar’s CO2 emissions by 26 million metric tons. For a country that has one of the highest per capita carbon footprints in the world, this represents a major step toward its sustainability goals.

Qatar’s leadership has been vocal about its commitment to reducing emissions in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, which outlines the nation’s ambitions for economic diversification and environmental sustainability.

The Al Kharsaah solar plant is a tangible manifestation of this vision and underscores Qatar’s efforts to balance its role as a leading global exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the need for more sustainable domestic energy practices.

“Al Kharsaah contributes to the sustainability roadmap of Qatar and demonstrates TotalEnergies’ ability to support producing countries in their energy transition,” says Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of TotalEnergies, during the plant’s inauguration. “This is another milestone that brings us closer to our goal of 35 GW of production capacity by 2025.”

While Al Kharsaah is the first large-scale solar project in Qatar, it is by no means the last. The country has ambitious plans to expand its renewable energy portfolio in the coming years. QatarEnergy has outlined its commitment to investing in solar and other renewable projects both domestically and internationally, as part of its goal to increase the share of renewables in the national energy mix.

Qatar’s drive towards renewable energy is also closely linked to its role as a global energy leader. As one of the world’s top LNG exporters, Qatar has significant influence in the global energy market. By investing in renewable energy, the country is not only securing its own energy future but also positioning itself as a key player in the global energy transition.

In addition to solar power, Qatar is exploring other avenues for reducing its carbon footprint, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, which are critical to decarbonizing the oil and gas sectors. The government’s long-term strategy also includes exploring hydrogen production as a future energy source.

The Al Kharsaah Solar PV project represents a turning point in Qatar’s energy history, and signals the beginning of a broader transition toward renewables that is likely to accelerate in the coming years. With its abundant natural resources and commitment to sustainability, Qatar is well-positioned to become a leader in renewable energy in the Middle East.

Baset Asaba

Baset Asaba is an accomplished media and communications expert with extensive experience in creating impactful content across diverse platforms throughout the Middle East and Africa. With a background...