(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) and Energy City Qatar (ECQ) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would help increase the latter's use of solar power to nine megawatts.
The increase from the current 8 MW to 9 MW solar power represents around 15% of the total energy usage at the ECQ. This is part of QSTec's commitment to help ECQ incorporate solar panels and technologies into its future developments plans.
QSTec Chairman and CEO Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri and Energy City Chairman Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi, signed the MOU at ECQ s offices in West Bay, Doha, QSTec said in a media statement today.
By incorporating QSTec's solar panels and technologies into its buildings, ECQ will meet national building standards such as QSAS and silver and gold LEED certifications; codes designed to encourage organizations to use environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources in buildings.
"QSTec is well on its way to building a brand new industry of solar energy for Qatar so we are pleased to be joining forces with Energy City Qatar, one of Qatar's most important projects, to collaborate on developing solar solutions that meet their needs," said Dr Al Hajri.
"We aim to work with all Qatari organisations and institutions that are looking to utilise solar energy to become more sustainable. This MoU will see us working together to develop sustainable energy solutions that will have a positive effect on the environment and we expect to see many more local organisations adopting solar technologies in the future," he added.
Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Al Kaabi said, "Our citywide use of solar energy was originally designed to reach 6 megawatts (MW) but with this collaboration with QSTec we aim to increase Energy City's use of solar power to 9 MW which represents around 15% of the total energy usage at ECQ."
Energy City Qatar was the first to implement the Green and Sustainable building concepts in Qatar. With both LEED and QSAS certifications, the concept and creation of ECQ stands on the firm grounds of sustainability, he added.
"We are delighted to see that green building and sustainable construction that includes the adoption of alternative energy systems is widely accepted and showing an upward trend in Qatar and the region," said Al Kaabi.
"It is an honour to be the first real estate company to sign with QStec, a company that shares our vision in building a more sustainable future for our nation. We are advocates of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and we will seize every opportunity that will help realize this vision," he added.
QSTec's priority is providing solar solutions that are sustainable, efficient and the very best quality. QSTec will start by producing high quality, solar grade polysilicon; the key ingredient that goes into making the world's most efficient solar technologies such as solar cells and modules that convert the power of the sun into energy. This solar energy will provide a sustainable alternative source of energy whilst conserving and protecting Qatar s natural resources for the future.
In the not too distant future, QSTec hopes to build solar modules made in Qatar, made from QSTec s own polysilicon and then exported to the rest of the world.
Built on 1.2 million square meters of land in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, QSTec's US$1 Billion polysilicon manufacturing plant will produce 8,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) of polysilicon per year but it is designed to expand as demand grows. Eventually, more than 45,000 MTPY of polysilicon can be produced with the plant being designed to seamlessly incorporate ingots, wafers, cells and module manufacturing facilities.
ECQ is a fully integrated business cluster that will be the Gulf's first oil and gas industry commercial hub. ECQ will be a single point of access to the Middle East and global oil and gas players in the hydrocarbon value chain.
The MoU is another step for QSTec to provide Qatar with a sustainable source of energy, QSTec said.
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