Agreement to promote solar power projects

Marking  a new chapter in Qatar’s quest to reduce its carbon footprint by tapping  renewable energy sources, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) and Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) yesterday signed a  memorandum of understanding  (MoU) under which the latter will meet all the future requirements of solar energy in Qatar.

Addressing the media after the agreement signing, Kahramaa president Issa Hilal al-Kuwari and  QSTec CEO  and chairman Dr Khalid Klefeekh al-Hajri said that solar energy would emerge in the region, in particular in Qatar, as an alternative source of power to meet the growing requirements in various spheres of life .

Al-Hajri said: “Solar energy is emerging in Qatar and it is the key to providing alternative source of energy while conserving and preserving the country’s natural resources for future.”

The QSTec CEO said his company was “extremely happy” to be teaming up with Kahramaa to provide alternative energy sources to a range of  applications in future.

QSTec’s collaboration, said  al-Hajri, with key stakeholders of the country’s power sector, in particular with Kahramaa, had brought the company to a full circle in solar energy from generating  technologies and applications to everyone receiving energy from the sun directly into their homes.

“We are looking forward to working on a number of solar-aided projects in coming days,” he added.

QSTec’s topmost priority is to provide “effective, efficient, sustainable and quality solar solutions”.

The company will produce high quality solar grade polysilicon, one of the key ingredients  in the making of solar cells and modules that convert the sun power into energy.

Al-Kuwari said that the MoU was in line with Kahramaa’s strategies to meet the goals and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030. The Kahramaa president said the company valued the initiative and considered it as a model of co-operation formed between two major national entities to strengthen the foundation of the knowledge-based economy, as desired by the QNV 2030.

He  a expressed the hope that the MoU would ensure sustainability of the state’s energy and water resources and help Kahramaa improve the systems to conserve energy and water for future.

He said Kahramaa’s conservation plan included better demand management and continuous search for developing alternative sources for renewable energy. The development of alternative sources would also contribute to reduce the cost for developing utilities, he pointed out.

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