Bahrain - MENA Herald: The Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs met CESI, a global leader in technical consulting and engineering, who were recently been appointed to support Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Unit (SEU) to develop the technical and strategic regulatory requirements related to connecting distributed renewable energy resources into Bahrain’s national Electricity Grid owned by Electricity and Water Authority Bahrain (EWA).
Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Unit’s key objectives are to create an efficient and sustainable energy policy, encourage the use of renewables and raise awareness towards energy conservation.
During the meeting, the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs Dr. Abdul-Hussain Ali Mirza welcomed CESI’s recent appointment in its leading role to work closely with the SEU as a lead consultant in the technical integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems across Bahrain.
Minister Mirza said, “Within the Government entities including in our case, the Electricity and Water Authority, active steps are being undertaken by all stakeholders, in all aspects of energy sustainability including the focus to support initiatives centered on enhancement of energy efficiency and achieving clean energy production through the promotion of renewable energy deployment.
He further elaborated, “CESI were selected after careful evaluation of a number of bids for this extensive and important assignment, and was based on the company’s track record and expertise in this undertaking, which make it a perfect fit to support the country in building a solid and sustainable framework moving forward.”
The Minister explained that the Kingdom of Bahrain has increasingly recognized the growing importance of renewable energy as demand increases. In particular, solar PV systems have been a particular focus of interest for the Kingdom. In this most recent development, SEU has tasked CESI with finding solutions which include connecting renewable generation projects, increasing solar distributed generators and providing recommendations to speed up the growth of the PV market.
Other aspects will be to monitor and control PV generators, how they communicate with each other, and provide recommendations on implementing a modified billing invoicing procedure. The Minister iterated CESI’s assignment specific goals including primarily to develop the grid connection guidelines and standards for decentralized solar PV systems designed for low and medium voltage distribution networks; develop all the necessary fire, safety and other international compliance measures; and to develop accurate certification process and the entailing training programs.
On his part, CESI’s CEO Dr. Matteo Codazzi welcomed the Minister’s remarks and his confidence in CESI and said, “We are delighted to work with the Kingdom of Bahrain SEU in such a crucial project, focused on integrating and connecting renewables into the electricity grid. Based on our experience, a holistic and long-term approach to system design is key when planning variable renewables integration. Each country’s power system is unique and needs a specific approach. In this respect, we are honored to put our extensive global expertise at the service of Electricity Utility in Bahrain in order to support them in designing and implementing a technically solid and easily actionable PV integration plan, tailored on the specific needs of Bahrain’s power grid”.
Minister Mirza explained that in October 2016, the Government endorsed Bahrain’s National Plan for Energy Efficiency (NEEAP) and the National Plan for Renewable Energy (NREAP); via the cabinet Resolution Number 2384/8, including detailed initiatives and the stakeholder’s responsibility in each of the action plans. The Government approved the following principal targets in January 2017:
1) A 6% national electrical energy efficiency by year 2025.
2) A 5% contribution from renewable energies by the year 2025, rising further to 10% by the year 2035.
The follow up of the implementation of these target is a direct responsibility of the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs through his chairmanship of a high-level committee from senior officials representing all the stakeholder’s ministries and other Government authorities with coordination by and technical assistance from SEU.
The work of the SEU shall come under the Government’s high priority framework with the direct follow-up from the Supreme council for natural resources and economic security under the chairmanship of His Highness the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister.
CESI has already developed a solid track record of landmark GCC projects. In May 2014, the company signed a contract with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to consult on how best to connect renewable energy generators to the DEWA grid, Shams Dubai. In February 2015, CESI signed a further contract with DEWA to help ready Dubai’s transmission and distribution network for increasing its position in renewable energy.
In Oman, CESI has signed two groundbreaking contracts. The first, in September 2015, was with Rural Areas Electricity Company (RAECo) to consult on implementing renewable energy projects. In November 2016, the company was appointed by the Oman Authority for Electricity Regulation as the lead consultant in the technical integration of rooftop PV systems across the Sultanate.
“This most recent project in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a new milestone in the key developments we have been awarded since establishment of our regional Headquarters in Dubai five years ago, through the understanding we have built of regional energy markets, energy infrastructure, regulations and utilities. With regard to the Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Unit’s key objectives to create an efficient energy policy in order to secure the country’s future economic growth, CESI will use the most emerging and innovative processes and technologies to keep Bahrain at the forefront of the PV energy market” said Dr. Floris Hendrikus Schulze, managing director, CESI Middle East FZE.