Al Dur lights the way for Bahrain’s solar future

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has taken a major step towards a sustainable energy future with the official launch of the Al Dur Solar Power Plant. The foundation stone was laid yesterday in a ceremony attended by Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister.

Implemented by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), the plant is set to reach a capacity of approximately 100 megawatts upon completion in the third quarter of next year, using 135,000 solar panels.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah said the project reflects the broader development vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

He described Al Dur as a milestone in Bahrain’s energy sector, adding that it will not only provide new renewable generation capacity but also support the national target of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to 20% by 2035, in line with the National Renewable Energy Plan. The Al Dur plant will be connected directly to the national electricity grid, demonstrating Bahrain’s commitment to centralised renewable generation projects capable of contributing substantial capacity to the system.

Shaikh Khalid also praised private sector participation in distributed solar energy projects, highlighting the collaboration between government and private entities in advancing Bahrain’s renewable energy ambitions. He expressed gratitude to Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of EWA, all EWA personnel, and other stakeholders for their role in bringing the project to fruition.