Bahrain is planning to develop a 100MW solar plant in partnership with the private sector as part of its National Renewable Energy Plan.

The 100MW solar project is planned to be tendered to developers in February 2018 and scheduled for completion in 2019, according to a memorandum from the Minister of Electricity & Water Affairs.

Bahrain is planning for 5 per cent of its electricity to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Bahrain’s first renewable energy project was commissioned in July 2014. The 5MW distributed photovoltaic (PV) solar project was developed by state oil company Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) in collaboration with Bahrain’s Oil & Gas Authority (Nogaholding), EWA and the University of Bahrain. It was built by the US-based Petra Solar, in partnership with the US’ Caspian Renewable Energy. The project saves about 7,200 tonnes a year of carbon dioxide emissions and the electricity generated is delivered to EWA for distribution.