Plans for Oman’s first solar power project are moving forward with four possible sites having been identified for consideration and a final selection anticipated by the end of June.

The sites have been selected for their suitability for projects using photovoltaic solar, parabolic trough and solar tower technology.

The project will likely use a combination of photovoltaic solar and one of the other two technologies and will have a capacity of 50-200MW.

Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW) selected advisers to work on the project in September 2009. Australia’s WorleyParsons, the US’ Chadbourne & Parke and Australia’s Macquarie Group were appointed.

The project originates from a ministerial committee established last year to oversee renewable energy developments in Oman following a study completed in 2007 on the potential for such facilities in the country.

The committee requested PAEW undertake a feasibility study into and oversee the implementation of a large scale solar power facility.