Oman announced plans to add 5.7GW of solar power, no less than 2GW of wind power, and 1GW of energy storage systems by 2030. As a major producer of oil and natural gas, Oman is using renewable energy as a lever to promote energy structure diversification and transition to a low-carbon economy. The Omani Ministry of Energy and Mines will release an updated net zero emissions strategy and carbon market regulatory framework in 2026, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 33% by 2035. From photovoltaic arrays in the desert to coastal wind farms, this Gulf oil producing country is writing its own green chapter.

Add 5.7GW of photovoltaic power by 2030

The installation plan announced by Oman this time covers three major sectors: solar energy, wind power, and energy storage. Currently, multiple large-scale renewable energy facilities have been put into operation: the 50MW Zofar Phase I wind farm in the south was put into operation in 2019; The 500MW Iburi Phase II solar power plant will be put into operation in 2021, and the expansion project, including a 100 megawatt hour energy storage plan, is scheduled to be completed by 2027; In January 2025, two 1GW solar power plants will be put into operation in Manahe County, Dahelian Province. In addition, the Adam Solar project equipped with an energy storage system is expected to be connected to the grid in the first quarter of 2028, while the Camille Solar Phase II, Zofar, and Mahada projects with a total installed capacity of 1GW are expected to be completed between 2029 and 2030. The 500MW Xinau project has been awarded to a consortium led by French power company for investment and construction.

Carbon market framework attracts investment

Oman's updated net zero emissions strategy includes promoting energy diversification, developing carbon capture and storage technologies, and carrying out climate adaptation projects in seven key areas. The new carbon market framework aims to establish relevant rules and simplify the participation process of private investors and small and medium-sized enterprises. This institutional arrangement provides clearer expected rules and more convenient participation paths for foreign investment in Oman's new energy market, which helps attract more international capital and technology to enter the local renewable energy sector. Keywords: Middle East News Network, Wind Power, Photovoltaic, Energy Storage

Green hydrogen industry synchronously increases investment

In addition to photovoltaic and wind power, Oman is also intensifying the construction of green hydrogen projects, with plans to build seven green hydrogen production projects by 2030, with a total annual output of 1 million tons. From photovoltaic power generation to wind power installation, from energy storage matching to green hydrogen production, Oman is building a diversified clean energy system. As an important energy producer in the Middle East, Oman's energy transformation path provides a reference sample for other countries in the region and creates new market space for Chinese new energy enterprises to go global to the Middle East.Editor/Gao Xue