Ensuring Sustainable Future… Qatar Launches ‘BeSolar’ Service to Promote Use of Renewable Energy -1-

Director of Production Planning and Business Development at Kahramaa Eng. Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al Baker told QNA that the electricity generated by the Photovoltaic (PV) system reduces the amount of energy consumed by the subscriber from the grid. If more energy is produced than consumed at any given time, the surplus will be exported to the grid. If more energy is exported than imported during the billing period (one month), the value of the billed electricity will be zero and the surplus electricity will be shown as a balance that can be carried over to the next billing period. If more energy is produced than imported from the grid during several consecutive months, the balance will accumulate and be carried over to the following months, but the surplus amount cannot be carried over for more than 12 months. Speaking on the effects of weather changes such as clouds, rain, wind and humidity on the "BeSolar" service, Eng. Al Baker indicated that solar energy systems, like other renewable energies, are affected by the weather. For example, clouds and high humidity lead to a reduction in the production of electrical energy from solar panels. However, the great development in the solar energy industry has contributed to improving performance, and solar energy is currently the best source of renewable energy in Qatar. Eng. Al Baker explained that the cost of installing distributed solar energy systems depends on a number of factors, including the size of the system, the manufacturer of the system components, and whether the system has been updated or integrated into the building design. In general, the average cost of installing one kilowatt is around QR 4,000, which can be decrease with the spread of the service and market competitiveness. Asked whether Kahramaa will set the prices for installing the service, Eng. Al Baker said that setting the prices is left to contractors and suppliers, as there are many companies in the market that subscribers can use. Kahramaa will publish a list of approved contractors on its o fficial website, and subscribers interested in solar energy systems should only use companies licensed by Kahramaa. Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) launched the new "BeSolar" service for installing distributed solar energy systems for renewable energy on Aug. 18, 2024. It explained that a distributed solar energy policy and a net billing program have been developed to encourage customers to install solar energy systems in their homes, farms, Ezab (livestock farms), factories and all properties. It said that the net billing program offers economic advantages to customers, and that "BeSolar" reduces carbon dioxide emissions and aims to achieve the goals of Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy, Qatar National Vision 2030, and the Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030). Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy, which aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, envisages to produce 4 gigawatts of central photovoltaic solar energy, which will increase the share of renewable energy in Qatar from 5% to 18% by 2030. The strategy has also set a goal to produce 200 megawatts of distributed solar energy systems, allowing customers to connect photovoltaic solar systems to their facilities and export surplus electricity to the grid. Source: Qatar News Agency