Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) recently signed a Data License and Consulting Service Agreement with Redco International that will support renewable energy solutions to the country’s transportation sector.
QEERI is part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
As part of the agreement, Redco International will utilise QEERI’s solar atlas datasets advisory services for the validation of their technical proposal for the depot’s PV solar system. Redco International is the technical bid winners for the design and development of a solar photovoltaic (PV) bus depot in Lusail managed by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
The project is in support of Qatar achieving its target of having a quarter of the country’s bus fleet ‘electrified’ by 2022 and ready for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
This project is also in line with the commitment of the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications towards providing clean energy solutions for transportation. As per the Ministry’s earlier announcement, the region’s largest solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles will be established in Lusail City.
Project Tasks
Researchers and engineers from QEERI are involved in various aspects of the project – reviewing the guidelines, providing recommendations and verifying the project’s compliance with Tarsheed guidelines and Qatar standards. QEERI services also include the provision of estimation data on the energy yield based on site location, installation configuration (tilt, orientation, etc), and meteorological data – estimating the energy yield using real outdoor measurements, verifying the rating of the PV modules power prior to installation according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards and validating technology reliability for local conditions.
Their other tasks include performing visual and electroluminescence inspection of PV modules, testing the PV module peak power at standard testing conditions and testing the PV module peak power at different irradiance and temperature conditions. QEERI will also provide cleaning and maintenance recommendations regarding soiling, and monitor and verify that appropriate inverters are being used.
Dr Veronica Bermudez, Senior Research Director at the Energy Center, said that the expertise of QEERI scientists and the state-of-the-art facilities that they have at the Energy Center is a reference point for the region, and will be utilised extensively for this project and for other future projects.
As part of the agreement, PV modules supplied for the project are being tested in real conditions at QEERI’s Outdoor Test Facility to verify the electrical characteristics of a sample of modules under local climate conditions. The PV modules will also be put through rigorous testing conditions at the QEERI PV reliability laboratory to simulate accelerate ageing and determine and address potential failure causes.
Redco International
According to Sajid Aziz, MEP Director at Redco International, they were eager to start collaborating with QEERI. He said that Redco considers it a great advantage to have a world-class technical facility such as QEERI available locally. It gives the added assurance of having a reliable resource that will go a long way in achieving successful project delivery with the required quality.
Both our organisations are working toward the same goal: to support Qatar, and we bring our unique expertise and objectives towards reaching that goal. I am positive that our collaboration will bring excellent results for this project, and in turn for the country.
QEERI conducts research across its various centres such as the Energy Center, Water Center, Environment and Sustainability Center, Corrosion Center, Natural and Environmental Hazards Observatory, and Earth Sciences Program to support Qatar in tackling its grand challenges related to energy, water and the environment.
For more information on QEERI, visit hbku.edu.qa.
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