Renewable Energy Resources in Oman 3.4 Renewable energy activities in Oman 3.4.1 Existing RE systems Solar energy is the sole renewable energy resource which presently is utilised in Oman. Solar energy is primarily used for house hold water heating by heating water in tanks located on the roofs at private houses. Solar energy is also utilised by the oil production industry (PDO). Electricity generation by Photovoltaic cells is used for powering small remote located equipment and solar energy is used for steam production which is used for extraction of oil from the oil fields in the dessert. 3.4.2 Ongoing initiatives on RE systems Presently there are some discussions and planning activities regarding implementation of renewable energy systems in Oman. Private initiatives are ongoing regarding distributed power production by small wind turbines. Also small PV systems are considered as power supply for remote areas. In connection with planning of the development of new industrial and settlement areas in Oman, considerations on large scale utilisation of solar thermal systems for power supply are under consideration. 3.4.3 Research and Development Research and development (R&D) activities within renewable energy have been carried out at Sultan Qaboos University by the Renewable and Sustainable Energies Research Group. The R&D activities have included theoretical studies as well as experimental studies within the areas PV systems, non PV solar systems, Wind Energy Systems and Energy Planning and Management. Reference list of R&D activities is enclosed in Appendix 9. 3.5 Conventional energy resources in Oman Conventional (non-renewable) resources are as follows: • Natural Gas (relevant for Oman) • Petroleum (relevant for Oman) • Gasoline (relevant for Oman) • Fossil Fuels (relevant for Oman) • Coal (not relevant for Oman) • Nuclear Energy (not relevant for Oman) Page 48 of 134 .

Renewable Energy Resources in Oman 3.5.1 Background Oman’s economy is heavily reliant on oil and gas revenues, which account for about 84.2% in 2005 of the country’s export earnings and 48.8% of its gross domestic product (GDP). All of Oman’s domestic energy consumption is supplied by natural gas and oil, reflecting the country’s relative abundance of oil and natural gas reserves. Refer to Fig. 3.8 for split in 2004. Fig. 3.8 Total energy consumption in Oman. Natural Gas, 67% Oil, 33% 3.5.2 Oil sector According to Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ), proven oil reserves in Oman stood at 5.5 billion barrels as of January 2007. Oman's petroleum deposits were discovered in 1962, decades after those of its neighbours. Moreover, Oman's oil fields are generally smaller, more widely scattered, less productive, and pose higher production costs than in other Arabian Gulf countries. The average well in Oman produces only around 400 barrels per day (bbl/d), about one-tenth the volume per well of those in neighbouring countries. To compensate, Oman uses a variety of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. The oil reserves in Oman are shown in Fig. 3.9. Page 49 of 134 .