Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) committed to supporting Kahramaa with the future distribution of solar energy by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Sunday.
Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of QSTec and Engr. Essa Hilal Al-Kuwari, President of Kahramaa both signed the MOU at the Kahramaa President’s office in West Bay, Doha.
Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of QSTec said, “Solar energy is definitely emerging in Qatar and is the key to providing a sustainable alternative source of energy whilst conserving and protecting the country’s natural resources for the future. So we are extremely proud to be teaming up with Kahramaa to ensure that solar power is able to reach every single person in Qatar and provide alternative energy sources to a wide variety of solar applications.”
“QSTec’s collaboration with Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) and now Kahramaa brings us full circle in solar energy; from the manufacturing of solar technologies and applications, to everyone in Qatar receiving energy from the sun directly into their homes,” Dr Al Hajri added. “We look forward to working on many projects together using solar energy.” Qatar Solar Technologies’ number one priority is providing solar solutions that are sustainable, efficient and the very best quality. QSTec will start by producing high quality, solar grade polysilicon; the key ingredient that goes into making the world’s most efficient solar technologies such as solar cells and modules that convert the power of the sun into energy.
In the not too distant future, QSTec hopes to build solar modules made in Qatar, made from QSTec’s own polysilicon and then exported to the rest of the world.
In Qatar, there are already some projects using solar energy in unique ways. The Qatar National Food Securities Program is looking at using solar to power its desalination plants, the 2022 World Cup will be the first carbon neutral World Cup and will be utilizing solar energy for its air conditioned solar stadiums and fan zones. QSTec’s parent organisation, Qatar Foundation, has several projects such as the Qatar National Convention Centre, the new student housing complex and the Msheireb Properties development that will derive a percentage of their electricity needs using solar energy.
H.E. Eng. Essa Hilal Al-Kuwari, President of KAHRAMAA said, “This MoU comes under KAHRAMAA alignment of its objectives and strategies with QNV 2030 objectives and incorporation with other government institutions. We value this initiative between QSTec and KAHRAMAA as a module of cooperation between national corporations in the road to strengthen the foundation of knowledge economy. And this MoU will be one of the considered tools to ensure sustainability of the state’s energy and water recourses, and help us in improving our energy and water conservation plan, which includes Demand Side Management, and searching on alternative sources for renewable energy and new technologies that enable KAHRAMAA to Interface with the state’s short/medium/long term goals and objectives KAHRAMAA and to maintain sustainable, continuous, stable electricity & water supply for the State of Qatar at least costs for better living of tomorrow.”
H.E. Al-Kuwari emphasizes on KAHRAMAA commitments to reduce its carbon print to the level that maintains sustainable environmental development. He added that, “KM’s mission is to provide the people of Qatar with high quality electricity and water services, whilst creating value for these services for better living by:
• Harmonizing economic growth, social development and environmental protection, and achieving balance between development needs and environment protection. • Achieving projects while complying with health, safety, and environmental standards. • Decreasing carbon emissions, preserving the environment and distributing clean and pure potable water.”
Built on 1.2 million square meters of land in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, QSTec’s $1bn polysilicon manufacturing plant will produce 8,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) of polysilicon per year but it is designed to expand as demand grows. Eventually, more than 45,000 MTPY of polysilicon can be produced with the plant being designed to seamlessly incorporate ingots, wafers, cells and modules.
There is a growing demand within the GCC and the world for solar technologies and applications that are sustainable, reliable and that will bring a lasting benefit to the region and the world and QSTec is well placed to expand to meet this demand.
Kahramaa has the privilege of being the sole transmission and distribution system owner and operator for the electricity and water sector in Qatar.
This latest Memorandum of Understanding agreement is important step towards enabling QSTec to provide Qatar with a sustainable source of energy.
