Oman’s Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) has issued a licence for the sultanate’s first solar project.

AER has issued the licence to the local/Indian Bahwan Astonfield Solar Energy Company to develop a pilot 303kW solar plant in the Al-Mazyounah area of the southern Dhofar governorate.

Electricity generated from the solar plant will be sold to the local Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco).

Abdul Wahab bin Abdullah al-Hinai, director of licences and legal affairs at AER, told local press the solar pilot project would help assess the feasibility of commercial use of solar technology, as well as understanding the challenges if solar projects with higher capacities are to be implemented in the future.

The solar plant is a significant step towards the use of renewable energy resources in the sultanate. The plant will help in assessing the feasibility of commercial use of such technology, as well as the challenges that may emerge if more similar projects with higher capacities are implemented.

Oman is also planning to develop wind energy in the southern Dhofar governorate.

Raeco and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) are looking to develop a 50MW wind-powered scheme in the Harweel area of Dhofar. Masdar is providing funding for the estimated $200m project. Raeco will take over operations at the wind farm three years after commissioning, which is scheduled for 2017.

Austria’s ILF Consulting Engineers is the technical consultant on the project.