(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) has started grid connection for residential solar rooftop projects, a move that is likely to promote eco-friendly lifestyle as well as benefit the power sector in the sultanate.p

Launched under its renewable energy initiative 'Sahim', the authority seeks wide-scale deployment of small photovoltaic (PV) systems at residential premises in Oman which will enable customers to slash their annual electricity bills by around 40 per cent as well as help the country save millions in producing gas-fired electricity.

A small-scale enterprise Continental Shelf of Solar Tech, started by 28 year old engineer, Majid bin Salim Abdullah al Alawi, is one of the first companies to connect residential PV systems to local networks.

Speaking toMuscat Daily , Eng Alawi, CEO of the Continental Shelf of Solar Tech, said, 'We have connected five houses to the electricity grid in some areas of the sultanate and we will connect ten others in the coming days in areas such as Muscat, Izki and Manah.

'This system will allow citizens to sell excess power to electricity distribution companies. It will also preserve the environment and reduce carbon emissions in addition to saving money spent on electricity.'

The company has undertaken a number of projects like the installation of solar street lights for the Middle East College and many farms. 'We have also installed solar panels for a fuel station located in Muscat governorate.'

Eng Alawi started his business of solar PV panels in the sultanate in 2015. 'An Indian professor inspired me to establish my company while attending a workshop in India. The course was about clean energy. We currently install solar systems for houses, farms, factories, restaurants, etc.

'Our products include solar garden lighting, lighting walls with solar energy, solar water pumping systems, solar traffic lights, solar street lighting and solar street management. We have three branches in Muscat, Al Khoudh and Salalah. I hope that the culture of solar energy will spread among the members of the community.'

AER has approved an incentive-based tariff system that will enable residential customers to slash their annual electricity bills by around 40 per cent when they install grid-connected solar PV systems on their rooftops.

Under the Sahim initiative the authority plans to conduct a pilot phase targeting between 1,000 and 3,000 houses.

MENAFN0807201801410000ID1097128492