Oman’s Amin Solar Plant Gets I-REC Global Standards Certification

Muscat: Amin Renewable Energy Company (AREC), the owner and operator of a 105 MW solar PV project located in Dhofar Governorate, has been awarded the I-REC’s global standards renewable energy certificate.

The I-REC certification provides validation that every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a certified project comes from renewable sources until it reaches the end-user.

Following the certification, an output of 206,000 MWh of renewable energy from the plant’s solar PV complex, located in Nimr area of PDO’s Block “6” concession, was ready to be offered to users as I-REC registered. This output of certified renewable energy-based electricity can be used by an end-user against its own decarbonisation commitments or traded for carbon credit.

Registration of Amin’s certified output was made in coordination with the Directorate of Climate Affairs at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with the support of Three Pillars Consulting, the local I-REC issuer that validates companies’ claims to carbon-free energy products designed to be circulated in the open market.

Commenting on this development, Dr. Firas Ali Abduwani, Board Chairman of Amin Renewable Energy Company, said that the certification constitutes the first step in ensuring Oman’s dedication to meet global aspirations for clean energy.

Sami Baqir Al Lawati, Technical Manager of PDO, hailed the accomplishment as “a wonderful example of cooperation among representatives of local industries towards a low-carbon energy future in Oman in line with Oman Vision 2040.”

Najla Zuhair Al Jamali, CEO of Alternative Energy at OQ Group, described the achievement as “another successful project that lends support to Oman’s decarbonisation plans.”

Jared Braslawsky, Secretary General of the I-REC Standard Foundation, stated that the Amin registration was an important step towards the development of the energy market. “It provides strong, reliable follow-up of renewable energy and it can constitute a turning point in innovative procurement options and revolutionizes electricity production in Oman,” he added.

Amin Renewable Energy, with its 105 MW capacity solar PV plant, is considered the first commercial-scale renewable energy project of its kind in Oman. The plant is owned by OQ in partnership with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation, Nebras Energy of Qatar and Bahwan Renewable Energy.