First phase of solar parking shades opens at SQU

MUSCAT: The first phase of solar parking shades at the College of Engineering of the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) was inaugurated on Tuesday with an annual capacity of about 110 megawatts per hour.

The project was funded by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Prof Hadj Bourdoucen, Dean of the SQU College of Engineering, said that the SQU gives great importance to the development of scientific research in measurement, utilisation and applications of various sources of renewable energy due to its importance in the present and future of the Sultanate.

“On the other hand, the SQU, as an academic institution and a house of expertise in the Sultanate, is always seeking for a continuous and wide contribution to the national development, including the search for new energy resources and alternatives for the economic development,” he said.

Prof Bourdoucen further said that in terms of partnership and cooperation with various relevant sectors both inside and outside the Sultanate, SQU is paying a special attention to international cooperation with scientific, research and industrial institutions.

As part of this, cooperation with Jacobs Company was established to sponsor this project of constructing shaded parking for the College of Engineering.

In addition to its contribution in raising the awareness of SQU students about the importance of renewable energies and their development in the Sultanate, this project would also contribute significantly to support the educational, research and development process of renewable energies in the College of Engineering.

The number of parking lots is 90 for the two phases. In the first phase, 50 per cent was completed with an expected annual production capacity of more than 110 megawatts per hour.

The construction of the second phase for another 45 parking lots, is expected to start soon.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prof Ali bin Huwaishal al Shuaili, SQU Deputy Vicechancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Prof Amer bin Ali al Rowas, SQU Deputy Vicechancellor for Academic Affairs and Community Service, David Zelinski, Senior Vice-president for Energy and Chemicals, Prof Bourdoucen, and Abdullah al Saidi, CEO of Nafath Energy, the company that is executing the project.