Transcript First Meeting with the Technical task forces

Renewable
Energy Strategic
Research
Program
Dr. Ahmed Said Al Busaidi
Program manager of the renewable energy research program
April 2015
CONTENT
1.
Background & Scope
2.
Stages of building the strategy
3.
Program objectives
4.
The research themes
5.
Database creation and Awareness activities
6.
Program management
7.
Process for submitting research proposals
8.
Program Budget
9.
Expected outcomes of the renewable energy strategic
research program
10.
Aims of the work shop & Workshop format
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Vision
“We emphasize on the importance of
diversification of income sources, as
well as to bring more efforts in this
area, also to consider taking advantage
from the alternative energy, and pay
more efforts to achieve the food
security as much as needed, in this
regard we have issued our orders to the
specialized authorities to develop
appropriate plans for these areas”.
Majlis Oman 2008
Background

Renewable energy status in Oman
•
Renewable energy Resources
•
Pilots projects
•
Studies
•
Challenges

Scope

Program initial approval
Solar Energy Assessment





The solar isolation varies from 4.5 to 6.1 kWh/m2 per
day which corresponding to 1640– 2200 kWh per year
per square meter.
Global solar radiation. Average 1987-1992. kWh/m2 per day
7.00
The consumption of energy is higher during the
summer time due to the need for air conditioning.
Theoretically, it is possible to power Oman by
utilizing about 280 km2 of desert from solar
collectors, corresponding to 0.1% of the area of the
country.
The capacity factor of PV plant varies between 20%
and 14% and the cost of electricity varies between
210 and 304 US$/MWh for the best location to the
least attractive location.
The study has also found that the PV energy at the
best location is competitive with diesel generation
without including the externality costs of diesel.
An average of about 6000 tons CO2 and 5000 tons of
GHG emissions can be avoided.
6.09
6.00
5.00
kWh/m2 per day

4.51
4.53
Salalah
Sur
5.38
5.48
Buraimi
Seeb
5.69
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Fahud
Marmul
Wind Assessment
Annual mean wind speed, m/s
9.0
10 m agl
8.0
80 m agl
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Qairoon Hariti
Thumrait
Masirah
Joba
Sur
Location

The high wind speeds are found along the coast from Masirah to Salalah. The highest wind speeds are
in the Dhofar Mountain, during the summer period.

The maximum expected energy is at Thumrat for an almost 4.5 kWh/m2/year

Offshore: There is a lot of wind energy available offshore.

The wind remains a suitable economic option for small remote applications where the national grid is
not yet extended
Biomass energy

Biogas resources material for generation is primarily available in the
northern part of Oman in the forms of waste water and agriculture
waste and in the southern part of Oman in the forms of waste water,
animal dung and agriculture waste.

The biomass sector has the potential to expand without harmful effects
on food supplies and the environment if done in a sustainable manner.

Greater recovery of wood from unmanaged and managed wood and
could make a significant contribution to Oman energy targets.

Moreover, in Oman there are several landfills which can be utilized to
produce methane gas so that it can be used as a fuel source.

Biogas investments: limitation (collection of materials and availability
of these materials because these are processed and used as fertilizer)

No industry of biofuels in Oman

The waste water system is covering only small part of Oman, which
currently is not sufficient to provide a fuel for a power plant.

There is good potential for the Oman to expand its production of
sustainable bio-fuel in the future if the infrastructure and the right
industry is available.
Wave/ Hydor energy

The wave energy in the world oceans varies from approximately
10 kW/m wavelength and up to approximately 100 kW/m.

The wave energy potential in the Arabian Sea is among the lowest
in the world and it can be assumed that this energy cannot
contribute significantly to power generation in Oman.

The PAEW is planning o direct some research for the hydro energy
of the Wadi Dahqa Dam.
Geothermal Energy
•
The geothermal energy does not have any
potential use in the country.
•
Temperature maps for 500 and 1500 m depths and
locations of boreholes within the petroleum
Development Oman concession area reveals that
the highest temperature is 174 C0. That was
observed in the northern part of Oman in the
Omani mountains.
FACTs
Electricity Capacity and Peak Load in Oman between 2004-2013
Ref: Authority for Electricity Regulation, 2011, Annual Report Online www.aer-oman.org/images/aer284.pdf
350
FACTs
Oman’s Government subsidies for power generation
300
250
Million OR
200
150
100
50
0
2011
2012
Annual Book, Statistical and information center , 2014
2013
Renewable Energy studies (PAEW)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pilot Projects (5 projects( wind/solar) with an expected installed
capacity of 0.5M-5MW)
A feasibility study for power production by wind energy in
Dhofar: Masdar Future Energy (Abu Dhabi)
Feasibility study to produce power from solar energy with
capacity of 50-200 MW Objectives( 50-200 MW ) in Adam,
Mannah, Ibri and AL Khabourah.
A study to prepare general policy for RE in Oman (Finance:IRENA
Consultants:Experts from SQU)
5.
Wind Resources Atlas study in Oman (Finance: PAEW Consultant:
Rimal Global Technical Services )
Opportunities
Barriers
PAEW + TRC
Renewable energy
r strategic
research program
?
Scope

As a result of these challenges, TRC has established
the Renewable Energy Research Strategy Program.
Considered to be a major step towards
unlocking the country's renewable energy potential
and activating energy-quality programs as well as
a much-needed boon to the national economy.

The program will maximize the benefits of advanced
research and promote cooperation among all involved
stockholders in this area.

The Sultanate can benefit in many ways, from the
capabilities and outcomes of the advanced research.
What has been
done?
Meeting 3
Meeting 2
Meeting 1
Steering
Committee
Approval
Initial
Research
Program
Approval
March
2013
*Discussion of
first draft of the
strategic
*Brain storming
about the main
objectives and
outcomes of the
program
may
2013
* Workshop to discuss
main outcomes of the
research and studies
*A team was given
the task to start
working in the
strategic
Jan 2014
*Approval of 4
research themes
*Establishing of t
he technical task
forces
*finalizing the
strategic
document
Nov
2014
VISION & MISSION
Vision: Towards clean and sustainable energy
Mission:
To conduct high quality scientific, experimental research to
seek and propose real solutions for national challenges of
renewable energy and energy efficiency. These pilot
researches will enhance the capacity building, knowledge
transfer and will contribute in the comprehensive
sustainable development in Oman.
Objectives
1.
Identify the most important areas of scientific research for Oman which can
contribute to experimental renewable energy research and provide scientific
solutions.
2.
Support and conduct experimental pilot research projects in the identified
areas using the latest scientific solutions, information and techniques.
3.
Provide realistic scientific facts to decision makers on evidence-based
solutions, which will help in planning of formulating regulations and policies.
4.
Enhance capacity building in the field of renewable energies, program
development and creating a motivational research environment.
5.
Increase the mutual cooperation and networking between academic and
industrial organizations, and maximize the benefit from cooperation with
various international organizations.
6.
Develop a platform to host links to databases to provide all of the required
weather data, raw data, geographical data, reports and the latest research
outcomes.
7.
Disseminate the outcomes of the program to stakeholder through awareness
activities.
Process of developing the strategy
Steering Committee
meeting
Experts
Work
Shop
8-9/4/2015
17/11/2014
Task Forces
12/3/2015
Steering Committee
meeting
15/2/2015
1
2
Members
3
4
Main
responsibili
ties
Writing the strategic
document
Recommend the
subthemes
(pilots)
TRC board
Approval
CALL for
Proposals
26/4/2015
The
research
themes
Research Theme1
The use of renewable energies in the fields
of cooling and Air-conditioning
 Oman
is known for its hot climate and air-conditioning is
the most energy consuming sources.
 Air-conditioning
drains almost three quarters of energy
in the summer time. With the increase in population and
infrastructural expansion, consumption figures increase
steeply and hence calls for a prompt action.
 In
addition to energy management, renewable-energydriven technologies stand out to be the most viable
alternative.
Source: AER, Oman2013
Research Theme1 cont,,
The use of renewable energies in the fields
of cooling and Air-conditioning
Examples
of the proposed research areas in this
theme are listed below (but not limited to):
1.Air
conditioning for humid/hot areas in Oman.
2.Development
of Environment-friendly
Hybrid/cogeneration cooling systems.
3.Using
renewable energy/waste heat for
absorption cooling tailored for local
conditions.
Research Theme2
The use of the renewable energies for water
desalination purposes

Nationally, the demand for water is more than what is
currently available from renewable resources, and more
that 50% of this demand is met with desalinated water.

Water shortages are expected to contribute to increased
energy problems, and environmental considerations such as
global warming will add other significant pressures.
Therefore, there is no realistic solution for a sustainable
water and energy future, without the substantial
participation of renewables in general and, in particular,
solar.

Over the past ten years, there has been a considerable
increase in the number of desalination plants in Oman; all
of which are based on conventional energy resources. The
higher the demand for water, the higher the demand for
the desalination plants, because of the decline in ground
water levels and low rainfalls in the country.
Source: PAEW Annual report 2013
Research Theme2 cont,,
The use of the renewable energies for water
desalination purposes

Since desalination is an energy-intensive process, its dependency on
conventional energy resources will be a difficult task, in the long run.
The only option is to find a suitable alternative energy source that can
connect with desalination plants. Oman is considered to be amongst the
highest solar energy densities in the world and can theoretically cover all
of the country’s energy demand.

Examples of the proposed research areas in this theme are listed below
(but not limited to):
1.
Solar Power membrane Distillation using sea water.
2.
Solar PV driven RO brackish water Desalination plant.
3.
Solar Power Multiple Effect Distillation using sea water.
4.
Enhancing the performance of humidification and
dehumidification unit, combining cultivation and desalination for
irrigation.
Source: PAEW Annual report 2013
Research Theme 3
Energy Efficiency

Buildings are the major consumer of energy, worldwide. In
developing countries, such as Oman, the high energy consumption
in buildings is mainly attributed to the lack of local energy
standards and energy-efficiency programs.

Latest report shows the residential and commercial buildings
consumed between 60 to 70% of electricity produced in 2012, with
the bulk of this used by air conditioning systems.

The AER annual report has also indicated an increase of 31% and
63% in energy intensity for the residential and commercial sectors
between 2005 and 2012. The increase in energy intensity and the
continuous electrical demand is substantial and considered
unsustainable, in the long run.
Research Theme 3
Energy Efficiency
 In
order to alleviate this major dilemma, the
energy efficiency pilot projects will be targeted
towards the residential and commercial buildings.
 Examples
of research topics may include (but not
limited to):
1.Energy
audit to identify energy-efficient retrofitting
opportunities in large buildings.
2.National
study for residential buildings energy
efficiency monitoring, analysis, and modeling.
Research Theme 4
Power generating and storage

In Oman, the electricity demand has increased from 2773 MW in 2007
to 5691 MW in 2014. While, in 2010 the annual growth rate was 17.8%,
and peak demand is envisaged to continue increasing due to the
accelerated population and industrial growth in Oman.

The forecasted peak power demand in 2018 will be 6600 MW, and
shortages in electric energy are expected to occur in the near future if
current trends continue.

This situation indicates that a quick action must be taken to cover the
expected increase in the energy demand.

Research shows that renewable energy can play a major role in
electric energy production and storage in Oman. To achieve the above
objectives, research studies and applied experimental research
projects must be executed to explore energy generation and storage
using solar energy, wind energy, biomass, wave and tide energy and
geothermal energy.
Research Theme 4 cont ,,,
Power generating and storage

Examples of research topics may include (but not limited
to):
1.Solar
Community and Charging Center
2.Hybrid
power generation system
(MICROGRID)
3.Integrated
municipal solid waste treatment
and management for harnessing bio-energy
and bio-fertilizer.
4.Explore
Oman.
Ocean Thermal Energy Convert in
Development of Database Platform &
Dissemination Activities
Development of Database Platform

The strategic research program aims to develop the local research
capacity, build knowledge transfer, value capture and provide an
enabling environment for research and innovation.

To support these objectives, the program will create a database
platform that will play a significant role in providing all required
weather, raw, and other geographical data as well as reports and
the latest research outcomes related to the renewable energy.

The program will also work to support all researchers and related
agencies to get the maximum advantages from the database
services.

The database will provide services to all those conducting research
and studies on renewable energy and energy efficiency in Oman.
Development of Database Platform &
Dissemination Activities
Dissemination Activities

The strategy is designed to disseminate the
outcomes of the conducted research for the
decision makers in government and private
sectors. The outcomes of this program will also
be reported for public awareness.
‫زرعوا فأكلنا ونزرع فيأكلون‬
Program Management
Process for Managing the Research
Proposals
1.Evaluation Criteria
2.Eligibility criteria
3.Timing of Calls for Proposals
4.Strategic research grant policy
guideline
5. Mechanism of
implementations
6. Evaluation and assessment of
project
7. Reporting and research
outcomes
Program Budget
Budget of the four research
Themes of the Program and
the capacity building
Operating
budget
Budget for the database,
the dissemination and
awareness activates
•7,100,000 OMR
•667,800 OMR
•95,000 OMR.
7,862,800
OMR
Program Budget cont,,,




90.3 % of the total budget has been allocated for financing the four research themes
and the capacity building,
8.5 % for the operating budgets
the remaining is for the database, the dissemination and awareness activates.
Expected Outcomes
1.
Provide evidence-based solution to decision makers on plans
related to the energy sector.
2.
Support and assess the concerned authorities to develop the
right polices and regulation which will accelerate the
investment on renewable energy projects in Oman.
3.
Capacity building of Omanis (minimum of 6 PhDs scholarships
and 8 MSc + other training programs)
4.
Establish a platform to link to databases to provide all of the
required weather data, raw data, geographical data, reports
and the latest research outcomes.
5.
Establish a renewable energy center with qualified Omani
capabilities in different fields of renewable energy.
Short
term
Plan
1-2
years
Long
term
Plan 15 years
Program
Approval
Data Base
Awareness and
marketing
Renewable
Energy
center
Research
services
Training
Capacity
Building
Pilots projects
Consultation
Thanks