- Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has inaugurated the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES).
- QNRES will implement net billing for distributed renewable energy generation, enabling consumers to sell surplus power generated to the grid at a fixed price.
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has inaugurated the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy (QNRES), which aims to increase renewable power generation to about 4 GW by 2030 and cut its carbon footprint.
QNRES aims to increase and diversify the use of renewable energy sources, specifically solar energy, in Qatar and integrate them into the energy mix. This is in consideration of the country’s high-quality solar energy resources.
Qatar’s global horizontal radiation level is among the highest in the world, with a rating of more than 2,000 kWh generated per square meter per year. The QNRES aims to increase large-scale renewable power generation to about 4 GW by 2030.
QNRES recommends installing distributed solar generation up to around 200 MW by 2030. This capacity will enable more localised power generation, reducing strain on the centralised grid infrastructure and enhancing energy resilience.
The strategy was developed in partnership with 22 key energy stakeholders and is built upon three pillars: reducing emissions through sustainable policies, increasing the penetration of renewable energy while maintaining grid stability, and maximising the socio-economic contribution from renewable energy.
The QNRES recognises the importance of ensuring that the transition to renewable energy does not compromise the reliability and resilience of the electricity system. To achieve this, the strategy uses a balanced approach that combines large-scale renewable energy installations with high-efficiency thermal generation powered by natural gas.
Kahramaa’s role as a leading force in the QNRES is to regulate and define RE regulations, issue licenses, monitor compliance, execute a detailed RE deployment programme, manage stakeholder interaction, prepare tender documents, and support research and innovation initiatives.
Likewise, in preparation for the launch of the distributed renewable energy programme, Kahramaa recently announced that it will start receiving applications from distributors and manufacturers for accredited solar panels and inverters.
QNRES will implement net billing for distributed renewable energy generation, enabling consumers to sell surplus power generated to the grid at a fixed price.
Moreover, a bidirectional meter on the customer’s premise measures electricity consumed and surplus exported to the grid, and Kahramaa credits the consumer account for surplus to offset future consumption. This will result in lower electricity bills and encourage investments in solar PV.