Solar power plan gets support boost

Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) has supported the announcement that Qatar will generate 1.8 Gigawatts (1,800 megawatts) of solar power by 2014 as part of the plan to generate 20% of the country’s total energy requirements through renewable sources. The announcement was made by the Doha 2012 UN Climate Change Conference (COP18/CMP8) organising sub-committee chairman HE Fahad Mohamed al-Attiya at a gathering of civil society leaders on Monday. QSTec chairman and chief executive officer Dr Khalid Klefeekh al-Hajri yesterday said: “As one of the key organisations dedicated to building a brand new industry of solar energy in Qatar, we at QSTec are extremely proud to support this promise wholeheartedly and meet its requirements. “QSTec is a strong advocate of the 2030 Qatar National Vision and will seize every opportunity that will turn this vision into a reality – beginning with the manufacture of polysilicon, the key ingredient of the world’s most efficient solar panels, and expanding through to the manufacturing and installation of solar modules and solutions. “Solar energy will compliment Qatar’s conventional sources of energy. QSTec’s polysilicon plant in Ras Laffan Industrial City when fully expanded will have the capacity to produce 6.5GW of solar power. “QSTec will continue to collaborate and partner with key local and international organisations to shape the future of the solar industry throughout Qatar and the region.”