EDB commends Petra Solar, BAPCO and NOGA on five megawatt project

The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) congratulated Petra Solar, Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) and the National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA), following the announcement of an agreement on a five megawatt distributed smart solar energy project. Revealing this in a news release, Petra Solar said that the scheme will provide solar energy and increased efficiency through the use of smart grid technology to a number of locations in the country, including the BAPCO township of Awali and the University of Bahrain.

According to the announcement, Bahrain EDB has been closely involved in the development of the project since initiating discussions with Petra Solar in the United States in 2010.

Expressing satisfaction at the launch of the project, Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the EDB Board, said: “Investment in this sort of technology is a key part of our plans to create high-quality jobs for Bahrainis through sustainable economic growth for the long term. Importantly, this investment will not only create jobs directly but also create benefits for other companies by improving energy efficiency.”

Dr Shihab Kuran, President and CEO, Petra Solar, added: “Solar power and a stable electric grid are critical elements to Bahrain developing economic and energy security. In Awali, we are deploying solar power, plus we are building a wireless smart grid network, which are the building blocks for command and control of smart cities.”

Featuring a high-tech R&D component in Bahrain, the project marks the first step in plans to build a powerful ecosystem in Awali, based on its technology, EDB claimed.