Sustainable Energy Centre report released

Manama, Sep. 2 (BNA): The Sustainable Energy Centre today released its annual report for 2018, which contains an overview of all its achievements last year. Set up under the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, the Sustainable Energy Centre plays a key role in the formulation and implementation of renewable energy policies, legislation and strategies in Bahrain. In 2018, the centre achieved investment initiatives and projects that promote energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in the national energy mix. Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr. Abdulhussain Mirza, who released the report, said: “This is a year of innovation in the field of renewable energy in Bahrain. The report highlights the advanced status of the sustainable energy technology sector in Bahrain and the future global market opportunities that local companies can benefit from.” The report highlighted the most prominent projects and initiatives achieved by the centre in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency as follows: - Completion of the policy of the Net Metering System, which was implemented from the beginning of January 2018 and obtained the approval of the Council of Ministers. This system allows people to install solar energy systems on their homes or facilities and connect them with the government grid and make use of the electricity produced from solar energy in their consumption of electricity and thus achieve a reduction in the value of electricity and water bills. If they have surplus from this source they can return this surplus to the government grid and get a discount from the government on it. - Tender for the construction of a 100 MW solar power plant. - Installation of solar energy systems in The Avenues Mall, where 880 solar panels were installed on the parking lots in a step ahead of a commercial complex that adopts the net metering system. - Inauguration of the first government building with renewable energy. - The pilot project for the installation of solar energy systems in bus stations is a remarkable achievement by the Ministry of Transportation. The first solar-powered bus station was operated next to Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq, with a rate of one kilowatt. - Launching the initiative of launching the roofs of government buildings in tenders for the installation of solar energy systems with the participation of the private sector. - The Sustainable Energy Centre prepared and launched in 2018 Bahrain’s Wind Atlas, the first comprehensive study of wind sources in the country. This initiative marked a milestone in the fields of renewable energy, enhanced understanding of the potential of wind energy, and created new opportunities for investment in this field. - Partnering with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism to launch the initiative to put energy efficiency labels on air conditioners as an indicator of the amount of energy consumed by units. - Other initiatives and projects included the completion of the preparation of the Green Building Guide, replacing the lighting of government buildings and street lighting with energy-saving lighting (LED), setting the efficiency standards of vehicles, identifying systems of energy efficiency management of government buildings, building institutional capacity and training people and entities to qualify them in proper installation for solar systems to promote the domestic market. - Developments for the National Energy Efficiency Plan and the National Renewable Energy Plan. - Meetings of the Government follow-up committee chaired by the Minister of Electricity and Water. - Participated in a number of conferences and exhibitions to raise awareness about the advantages of renewable energy. The report also contains the mission, vision and values of the centre and training courses it carries out for the rehabilitation of human and institutional cadres. - The centre’s achievements in raising awareness about the importance of renewable energy.