The nation's transmission grid owner and operator, Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), has declared the successful conclusion of testing necessary to enable the Ibri Solar Independent Power Project's (IPP) remote operation. The largest grid-connected utility-scale solar power scheme now operating in the Sultanate of Oman is the 500 MW Ibri II Solar IPP project. Owned by Shams Ad-Dhahirah Generating Company (SDGC), a joint venture between ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), and Alternative Energy Projects Co (AEPC), the plant is situated in the Al Dhahirah Governorate.
The 75% state-owned OETC, a division of Nama Group, said that it had successfully finished all the testing needed to remotely control generation at Ibri Solar IPP, which is regarded as Oman's first solar power plant to be connected to the transmission system. "In addition to accomplishing national carbon neutrality goals and aspirations, this is considered a significant step towards (strengthening) the stability, reliability, and sustainability of the electricity grid".
The Ibri II Solar IPP is remotely operated by OETC, as are other power plants located throughout the nation, under the supervision of its Load Despatch Centre (LDC) in Muscat. For the company's operational coordination and dispatching needs, it acts as a central facility. A regional control centre in Salalah manages the company's operations in the Dhofar Governorate, while the main control centre is housed at OETC's headquarters in Mawaleh.
To provide the safe, secure, dependable, and cost-effective transmission and dispatch of power, the OETC's infrastructure is essential. When operating at full capacity, the Ibri II Solar IPP generates enough clean energy to power about 50,000 households while offsetting 340,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions yearly. The facility was operationalized.