Qatar Initiates Solar Energy Plan
Woooo HOOOO, Qatar, for not depending on a non-renewable energy source, but continuing to develop strategies for survival into the future. And Qatar definitely has an abundance of solar power. But then again – so does Kuwait.
Qatar to tap solar power in a big way
Web posted at: 3/2/2010 6:29:33
Source ::: THE PENINSULA/ BY SATISH KANADY
DOHA: Qatar is all set to tap its abundance of solar power. Two leading international agencies yesterday announced their decision to partner with two Qatari entities to produce the green energy in the country.
SolarWorld AG, one of the world’s largest solar companies, will partner with Qatar Solar Technology (QST), in which Qatar Foundation (QF) has a major stake. Separately, the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Centre (DLR), will partner with the country’s ambitious Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP).
Qatar Solar Technology marks the entry of QF into the solar energy sector. QF will have a 70 percent stake in QST, with SolarWorld holding 29 percent and Qatar Development Bank the remaining one percent.
The initial investment in QST is valued at over $500m, QF said.
Through the joint venture, solar grade polysilicon, the essential ingredient of solar panels, would be produced in the first phase.
QST will develop a new plant in Ras Laffan Industrial City, in the northeast of Qatar, which will be one of the first operational polysilicon plants in the region. The plant will produce well over 3,500 tonnes per annum of the material and will be designed with future expansion in mind, which will enable it to significantly increase production capacity.
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Who told you Kuwait isn’t planning for implementing solar energy? It’s just that those involved haven’t decided each person’s share of the loot of the government’s money…
LOL, Anonymous Coward, at first I thought I had missed something. One day Kuwait will stop the blah blah blah and start creating infrastructure again, God willing. There is a talented generation, educated, willing to work hard – the glory days of the ’70’s can return, and even better. Solar energy is one of the keys, and God knows, Kuwait is richly blessed with solar energy. 🙂
It needs a lot of work! It’s not as simple as having sunshine doing it for us. One of the biggest challenges is DUST. The cells need to stay clean in order to remain effective.
Whenever I think of this I have a horrible image in my mind: A vast area with the sharp edge of technology, solar panels as far as the eye can see… and imported labour (being paid poorly of course) cleaning the panels with dirty rags – like they’re washing cars. 🙂
@BU Yousef
The panels can be supplied by small pumps that squirt water on the panels and then automatic wipers like the ones we have on our cars will wipe the panels clean . Of course the water pump and the wipers will be run by a fraction of the free power generated from the panels themselves
🙂 and where will you get the water from?
LOL, Bu Yousef, sad, but true.
@Bu Yousef ;
And the water will come from a well in the solar farm that produces brackish water .It is then converted to sweet fresh water by reverse osmosis plant (like they use on boats to make fresh water at sea) .The water produced is piped to the panels where it is squirted sparingly and collected afterwards and recycled again .
Any other question ???
🙂
@ Daggero and @ BuYousef, you two live in the same city. I bet you would have a great time sitting down over a cup of coffee and solving this problem. 🙂 I only wish I could be there, a little fly on the wall, oh yeh, a fly who understands idomatic Kuwaiti conversations, LOL! 😀
Bingo 🙂
Coffee sounds great…