The project is fully funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The wind farm was successfully connected to Oman’s electricity transmission grid earlier this month during the commissioning of the project’s first wind turbine. The remaining 12 turbines will be commissioned, tested and connected to the grid and the start of commercial operations is expected before the end of 2019.
The project is being implemented by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) through an EPC consortium of GE Renewable Energy and Spain’s TSK. Once fully commissioned, the wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply 16,000 homes – equivalent to 7 percent of Dhofar Governorate’s total power demand – and will offset an estimated 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, while reducing reliance on natural gas for domestic power generation.
Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, speaking on the project, said, “To advance sustainable energy solutions worldwide, ADFD has, since its inception, partnered with regional and international stakeholders, contributing to the production of about 2,584 MW of renewable energy in different countries.”
He added, “Bringing Oman’s 50MW Dhofar Wind Farm online is yet another milestone in our 48-year development funding journey.”
The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) will be the purchaser of the generated power, from the Rural Areas Electricity Company of Oman (Tanweer), which is responsible for operating the wind power plant upon completion.
GE Renewable Energy has provided the project’s 3.8 MW wind turbines while TSK is responsible for the remainder of the wind farm’s infrastructure and electrical transmission facilities connecting the plant to the grid.
