Bahrain’s Electricity & Water Authority has selected Germany’s Fichtner to advise on a pilot renewable energy power plant in the kingdom.

The contract is worth BD345,000 ($915,000). Fichtner submitted the lowest bid for the contract in August 2010. Other bids were submitted by:

• Mott MacDonald (UK) – BD576,000 ($1.53m)
• Aecom (US) – BD1.86m

Fichtner will conduct a feasibility and assessment study for renewable energy technology in Bahrain. It will also advise on the design, tender and project management for the pilot scheme.

The project is expected to take the form of a hybrid solar and wind pilot facility for practical research and development.

The following bids were submitted, but did not pass the technical evaluation:

• Atkins (UK)
• CRA International (US)
• Energoprojekt (Serbia)
• ESB International (Ireland)
• Lahmeyer (Germany)

A committee to study renewable energy in Bahrain was established in 2005 with the intention of collecting meteorological data. A consultation committee was formed in 2009 to initiate the development of a pilot project.

The Electricity & Water Authority has already conducted an initial study into the potential for wind and solar power in Bahrain. The survey considered the kingdom, as well as selected locations in the GCC.