Abu Dhabi’s Masdar to build GCC’s first large-scale wind farm in Oman

Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with a global consortium to build the Dhofar wind power project in Oman.

The consortium set to undertake the contract includes GE and Spain’s TSK. GE will lead the EPC consortium, and will provide the project’s 13 wind turbines powered by its 3.8MW wind turbine generator solution. TSK will support the consortium partners with the construction of the balance of plant.

The project is the the first large-scale wind farm set to be developed in the GCC.

Established in 2014, it is being jointly developed by Masdar and the Rural Areas Electricity Company of Oman (RAECO). Funding for the wind farm is being provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).

When ready, the 50MW wind farm is expected to supply electricity to an estimated 16,000 homes and will represent 7 per cent of the total installed power generation capacity in the Dhofar governorate, including its capital city Salalah. It will also offset 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, according to officials.

Also read: Abu Dhabi’s Masdar says work progressing on world’s first offshore wind farm

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said, “Oman has immense untapped potential in renewable energy, particularly in solar and wind.

“The Dhofar wind power project will play an important role in supporting the diversification of Oman’s energy mix, while providing a reliable source of clean power to serve its growing population and economy.”

Currently, Oman’s deployment of renewable energy does not exceed 1 per cent, with natural gas accounting for 97 per cent of fuel used for power generation, according to estimates.

However, the entire GCC region is currently focussed on boosting renewable energy generation.

According to a recent report by MEED, more than $200bn worth of investment is needed by countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for developing renewable energy projects that are in different stages of design and study.

The projects will have more than 67GW of power capacity.

The report also estimated that the pipeline of renewable energy projects will increase in the next five years.