HH Skeikha Moza attends inauguration of world class Solar Test Facility at Qatar Science & Technology Park

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser today attended the inauguration of the first large-scale Solar Test Facility in Qatar. The launch coincided with the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP18), currently being held in Doha.

The Solar Test Facility has been established by Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), GreenGulf Inc. and Chevron Qatar Ltd, to test emerging solar technologies from around the world and identify those best suited to the climate of the Gulf region. The facility will investigate the effects of heat, humidity and dust on the performance of the solar equipment and address challenges such as the efficient use of water in cleaning solar systems.

The 35,000 square metre facility located within QSTP will investigate issues of applying solar technologies to uses that currently require energy coming from non-renewable sources. It will thus contribute to planning large-scale solar power production facilities.

Omran Al Kuwari, CEO and Co-Founder of GreenGulf said: “What we have all created for Qatar and the region is a true Commercialisation Centre where technology providers, academics and government institutions have a place to work together and address the needs of the region.”

“It is by many measures the world's most advanced solar test centre with over a dozen unique technologies and the region's most advanced weather station. The results will be provided free of charge to the world's scientific community.”

The Solar Test Facility will also have an educational and capacity building role, as students at the universities of Qatar Foundation and Qatar University will have the opportunity to study and learn about solar technologies through ongoing training and internship programs.

The inauguration of the Solar Test Facility marks the start of its research activities, while the core activities of the project are expected to be concluded by 2015.