Petroleum Development Oman Plans 100 MW Solar-BESS Project
Image Source: Solarquarter
Expanding its commitment to renewable energy, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the Sultanate of Oman’s largest oil and gas producer, has advanced plans for two wind power projects alongside a utility-scale solar PV Independent Power Project (IPP) integrated with a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Qarn Alam.
PDO will issue a Request for Proposals (RfP) for two wind power projects, each with a capacity of approximately 100 MW. These wind farms, named ‘Riyah-1 and Riyah-2,’ are expected to be operational by 2026, contributing to PDO’s goal of sourcing 30% of its energy from renewables by 2026.
Additionally, PDO is finalizing plans for a 100 MW solar PV-based IPP, named the ‘North Solar Storage IPP,’ set to include Oman’s first battery energy storage system (BESS). This BESS, using lithium-ion battery technology, will store electrical energy and supply a maximum of 100 MW peak power to PDO’s grid during daylight hours.
The stored energy will be discharged continuously until the following day, aiming for operation in 2025. This initiative builds on PDO’s landmark 100 MW Amin Solar PV IPP, which commenced operations in 2020. In alignment with its decarbonization strategy, PDO will also implement solar ground-mounted systems at three internal airports this year, with a total installed capacity of 609 kW.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to expand the solar car park capacity at the Mina Al Fahal headquarters and install solar rooftop systems on other PDO-owned buildings and infrastructure.
