Connecting countries to climate technology solutions
English Arabic Chinese (Simplified) French Russian Spanish Yoruba

Oman

Official Name:
Sultanate of Oman
Region:

Energy profile

Type: 
Energy profile
Energy profile
Extent of network

Electrification across Oman is approaching 100%, however there are still rural and remote areas that are not electrified. Officials from the Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECO, www.reefiah.com/) hope to implement distributed solar and wind power systems to electrify the majority of the rural population by 2012.The main interconnected system (MIS) serves the majority of people in Oman (almost 500,000 accounts). The system interconnects seven main power plants with around 3000MW of net generation capacity and transmits power over 220 and 132 kV lines. The Salalah system with the generation capacity of around 312MW covers Salalah and surrounding areas in the Dhofar region, south of Oman, serving around 50,000 accounts. The remaining of scattered rural areas of Oman is provided with the electrical power by mainly diesel generators, with total installed capacity of 1000 MW.A regional power grid has been constructed through GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Interconnection Project. The phase I to interconnect Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar (the Northern System) and phase II for the interconnection of the UAE and Oman (the Southern Systems) have been completed; and the phase III to interconnect the Northern and Southern Systems started in 2010. This GCC power grid will create the possibility to import electricity, especially from neighboring UAE and its nuclear plants planned for 2017, and lessen the strain on domestic natural gas supplies used as feedstock.

Renewable energy potential

Solar energyA 2008 study by Oman found the nation's solar energy potential is sufficient to meet all domestic electricity requirements and provide electricity for export. Theoretically it would be possible to supply all of Oman's present consumption of 13,900 GWh by utilising about 280 sq km of desert area for solar collectors, (around 0.1 per cent of the Sultanate's land area). Steps are in place to develop the first large scale solar power plant whose capacity will range between 50 and 200 MW.Elaborating on the findings of a feasibility study conducted by the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) in December 2009, the study found that a large scale, commercial solar power project is feasible in the country. However, the performance parameters of potential PV system in Oman such as longitude, latitude, incident angle, air mass, module temperature, cell temperature, voltage, current, power, efficiency, and pollution have not been investigated on their study.Solar thermal power plant, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant, can be built in Oman to produce substantial amount of energy. The potential for producing energy from this technology is more or less independent on the season with a slight decrease in winter time. The consumption of energy is higher during the summer time due to the need for air condition. During the winter time the surplus production can be exported to Europe where the need for energy is highest. Theoretically, it is possible to power Oman by utilizing about 280km2 of desert from solar collectors, corresponding to 0.1% of the area of the country. Oman may start combining electricity generation and sea water desalination with a 100MW CSP pilot project in the Duqum region. However, owing to the large amount of water required for CSP technology, it would not be wise to rush and implement CSP plants now in Oman.Wind energyWind energy has a high potential in Oman, with over 6.7 full-load wind hours per day on average. Average wind speeds of 5-6 m/s at 10 metres height have been observed along coastal areas of the country. The government is currently considering six pilot projects in the wind sector.It is observed that wind speed in general is higher in the coastal regions and in particular in the south and south east of Oman. The maximum wind speeds are observed in this region in June, July and August with an average wind speed at 50 m of 6.96, 7.86 and 7.18 m/s for the three months respectively. There is also a lot of wind energy available offshore as Oman has a coastline of almost 1,700km. However, little studies have been done to specify offshore wind energy in the last 20 years.BiomassGreater recovery of wood from unmanaged and managed woodland could make a significant contribution to Oman energy targets.BiofuelsPrivate-sector investment in biofuel production from date palms is ongoing, with 80,000 palms allocated for the first phase of the project. In addition, it is estimated that Oman could produce a net 100,000 MWh a year from waste biogas, corresponding to a continuous power capacity of roughly 4 MW.HydropowerOman has limited to no hydropower potential.Ocean powerNo studies have been done to specify the potential of tide energy. Regarding wave energy, there has been some scientific study of internal waves in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman through the use of satellite imagery, which shows evidence of fine scale internal wave signatures along the continental shelf around the entire region. More studies need to be carried out to specify the potential of wave energy in the country. In addition, there may be possibility to find feasible ocean thermal energy converter energy in Oman because of the depth of Arab Sea and Gulf of Oman (4,652m at the deepest); however no studies have been carried out in the last 20 years.Geothermal energyOman has 55 possible thermal boreholes with an average temperature in excess of 100ºC. The highest temperature borehole is 174ºC, meaning Oman's geothermal resource is not suitable for electricity generation on a large scale.

Energy framework

In December 1999 the Council of Ministers of Sultanate of Oman approved policies for the wholesale restructuring and privatization of the sultanate’s electricity and related water sectors.On the 1st August 2004, a Sector Law was announced by the Royal Decree 78/2004 to oversee the development of law for regulation and privatization of the sultanate’s electricity and related water sector. The Sector Law implements a new market structure, paves the way for further electricity privatization, and establishes an independent regulator to oversee the public interest regulation of the sector. The government started carrying out unbundling of the sector and setting up independent companies on a commercial basis. The Authority is also involved with the PAEW in proposing further changes in the current Sector Law to promote competition, and define subsidies and tariffs for large-scale renewable projects.Despite having considerable solar and wind energy potential, Oman has not yet implemented an energy policy framework.In 2008, the Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) published a study detailing the need for a dedicated national authority in Oman, to administer Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs) in accordance with the UNFCCC. The Authority has also invited the RAEC to identify possible locations for pilot distributed solar and wind power projects.The strategy in Oman to harness renewable energy resources will cover three main streams: the first is developing policy to promote applications of renewable energy; the second is the implementation of a number of projects to improve learning; and the third stream is building local capacity to have a sustainable business model. The AER has confirmed a shortlist of six renewable energy pilot projects of which four are solar projects as follows: (i) A 100kW PV solar project in Hiji; (ii) A 292kW solar project in Al Mazyonah; (iii) A 1500kW project at location to be confirmed; (iv) A 28 kW solar project in Al Mathfa incorporating battery storage capability; (v) A 500kW wind project in Masirah Island; and (vi) A 4200kW wind project in Saih Al Khairat, Wilyiat of Thumrait. Moreover, large scale solar power plant with a capacity of 200MW is expected to become available in 2014.

Source
Static Source:
  • Type: 
    Publication
    Publication date:
    Objective:
    Sectors:

    The goal of this report is to provide an understanding of global non-ferrous metal scrap flows in the context of non-ferrous industry developments over the 2000 to 2011 period. The focus of this study is on copper and aluminium as the two largest non-ferrous metals in terms of both material tonnages and market value. The report consists of four chapters. The first chapter, presented here, provides a brief backdrop to the analysis on non-ferrous scrap flows. It outlines growth in metal demand and the underlying reasons for this growth.

  • Type: 
    Publication
    Publication date:
    Objective:
    Sectors:

    This report provides historical and projected estimates of emissions of non-carbon-dioxide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from anthropogenic sources. It provides a consistent and comprehensive estimate for 92 individual countries and 8 regions. The analysis provides information that can be used to understand national contributions of GHG emissions, historical progress on reductions and mitigation opportunities. Although this document is being published by the U.S.

  • Type: 
    Publication
    Publication date:
    Objective:

    Freely available climate and climate-related data is essential to catalyze the changes in policies, investments and technologies that will be needed if we are to move towards a climate-smart future. The Climate Change Knowledge Portal is a central hub of information, data and reports about climate change around the world. With this portal you can query, map, compare, chart and summarize key climate and climate-related information. Open data: all of the climate data featured on the Climate Change Knowledge Portal has been published as open data resources.

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Country of registration:
    Bangladesh
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member

    Bangladesh Centre for Advanced studies (BCAS) is an independent, non-government, non-profit, research and policy institute institution established in 1986 with the mission to provide guidance and practical solutions to promote sustainable development, eradicate poverty, improve access of the poor to resources and ensure social justice. It specializes in policy analysis, action research and project implementation for sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels.  

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Country of registration:
    Germany
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member

    Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy  is a research and academic organization established in 1991 with the mission to undertake research and develops models, strategies and instruments for transitions to a sustainable development at local, national and international level. Sustainability research at the Wuppertal Institute focuses on the resources, climate and energy related challenges and their relation to economy and society. Special emphasis is put on analysing and stimulating innovations that decouple economic growth and wealth from natural resource use. 

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Country of registration:
    Israel
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member

    Natural Resources and Environmental Research Center (NRERC), University of Haifa is a resaerch and academic institution established in 1985  with the mission to  carry out interdisciplinary research in the area of natural resource and environmental resource management, pioneering this academic research field in Israel. NRERC is chosen, by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, to lead "The Israeli Center for Climate Change" (ICCIC).

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Knowledge partner
    Country of registration:
    Iraq
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member
    Knowledge Partner

    Kirkuk Technical College is a research and academic institution established in 1998, by the Government of Republic of Iraq with the mission to provide advanced technical education and create mechanisms for constant scientific, technical and moral evolutions of people so as to ensure continual development of the society. It conducts research studies and assessments on range of topics and develops knowledge products.

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Country of registration:
    Germany
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member
    Sector(s) of expertise:

    Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) is a network of Companies, Organisations, and Government Institutions aiming at a reduction of emissions from the cooling sectors established by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in 2014 and its initial funding will run to 30th of April 2017. The aim of GCI is to establish a global Green Cooling Network, which will accelerate the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors to and within developing countries.

  • Type: 
    Organisation
    Country of registration:
    South Korea
    Relation to CTCN:
    Network Member
    Sector(s) of expertise:

    Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) is a public sector organization  with the mission to Contribute to ecofriendly national development through the improvement of environment and promotion of resource recycling.