‘Climate-adapted' turbines for PDO wind farms
MUSCAT, MAY 19
Chinese multinational wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind is set to make its debut in Oman's sizable wind energy space with a contract to supply wind turbines for a pair of wind farms with a combined capacity of 234 MW.
The partnership of Omani state-owned OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE) [with a 51 per cent shareholding] and French integrated multi-energy group TotalEnergies (49 per cent) is developing the two wind farms in the southern part of the Block 6 concession of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), currently the largest producer of hydrocarbons in Oman. Output from the two wind farms, dubbed Riyah-1 and Riyah-2, will be supplied to PDO under long-term power purchase agreements.
Agreements green-lighting the start of work on these wind farms, among other initiatives, were signed last week. PowerChina Huadong Engineering (PowerChina) was named the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor.
For Beijing-headquartered Goldwind, which was ranked the largest supplier of wind turbines to the global market in 2024, the Oman contracts represent a further expansion into the lucrative Middle East market.
'We are honoured to announce that Goldwind, as the wind turbine supplier for the 234 MW Riyah 1&2 wind projects, is partnering with OQ Alternative Energy (OQAE) and TotalEnergies to deliver Oman's largest wind power initiative—marking a historic step in the nation's decarbonization journey. It also represents Goldwind's entry into its global market, reinforcing our commitment to worldwide sustainable energy solutions,' the Chinese firm stated in a post.
According to Goldwind, the two wind farms will be equipped with the company's 'climate-adapted turbines' designed to displace 740,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, which is equivalent to removing 160,000 cars from roads.
'These projects will supply green electricity to the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) electricity transmission network through long- term power purchase agreements. This represents a pioneering model of integrating renewable energy into the traditional fossil fuel sector, demonstrating Oman's strong commitment to decarbonizing its oil and gas sector,' it noted.
Ranked among the Top 5 wind turbine manufacturers in China, Goldwind is credited with delivering more than 53,000 wind turbines worldwide as of the end of Q3 2024, boasting a global cumulative installed capacity exceeding 128GW.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council's (GWEC) annual Supply Side Data report, Goldwind remained the world's leading turbine supplier, installing more than 20 GW in 2024 – a new record. As of the end of Q1 2025, the company's total order backlog was 51.09GW, which includes 48.6 GW of external orders.
Oman, with a requirement of hundreds of wind turbines to meet its target of securing at least 30 per cent of its energy needs from renewables, represents a key market for manufacturers like Goldwind. Additionally, an estimated 2,000 wind turbines will also be required to support Oman's green hydrogen productions targets by 2030.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
13 hours ago
- Observer
Opinion- Strengthening the MSX is a national imperative
The Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) is working to strengthen the institution's activities to position it among the region's financial markets in the coming period and to attract more investments to the Omani capital market. Recently, the MSX, in cooperation with the Gulf Capital Markets Association (GCMA), hosted a financial conference attended by several prominent figures in the financial and investment sectors. The conference focused on discussing the most prominent challenges and opportunities facing the region's financial markets in light of current economic and technological changes, and ways to develop a more efficient and attractive investment environment. The goal of this activity was to enhance the position of the Omani capital market, making it an advanced financial center, and to provide an integrated investment environment in line with international best practices. The question raised in this regard is related to the causes required to make the Muscat Stock Exchange an attractive market for domestic and foreign investments, and to understand the challenges facing the market at this stage. There are several factors that can be worked on to improve the stock market's operations and make it more attractive, including diversifying investment instruments and developing and expanding trading mechanisms and securities, such as providing investment funds and new financial instruments to increase diversity and attract a larger segment of investors. It is also crucial to enhance transparency and corporate governance standards and implement international standards to ensure the protection of investor rights and reduce risks. Furthermore, it is important to improve the systems and technologies used in trading to provide a faster and safer environment, while relying on financial technology (FinTech), facilitating procedures, reducing bureaucracy, and improving registration and approval procedures to make the market more flexible and responsive to investor demands. Finally, it is important to raise awareness about investment opportunities and the importance of sustainability and social responsibility to attract investors who focus on these standards. In addition, it is important to encourage foreign direct investment, issue legislation that encourages foreign investors, and provide incentives and facilitation for market entry. The Omani stock market faces several challenges, including a lack of liquidity and weak trading volume, which reduces its attractiveness and limits investors' ability to enter and exit easily. It also relies heavily on changes occurring in the oil and energy sector, making the market vulnerable to global economic fluctuations. Some believe there is a need to further improve governance and disclosure standards, increase investor confidence, and close legislative gaps that could lead to uncertainty or reduce investment incentives. They also believe there is a need to increase the number of financial institutions and related services to provide adequate investment support tools and mechanisms. It is also important to enhance financial literacy and raise awareness of the importance of long-term investment and sustainability. The market must have a comprehensive strategic vision focused on diversifying the economy and achieving political and regulatory stability to attract more investment. In order to enhance the daily buying and selling activity in the Omani stock market and increase trading volume, there are several factors and methods that can be developed and improved, the most important of which are increasing market liquidity, improving the market's ability to provide diverse and attractive financial instruments, in addition to encouraging investors to submit their trades by offering incentive programmes, especially for individual investors that can increases investors' ability to execute transactions quickly and without delay.
Muscat Daily
14 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
MTCIT invites EOI to develop office software locally in Oman
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – In an effort to enhance digital sovereignty and support technology localisation, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from local companies and investors to develop open-source office software. The ministry's Internal Investment Committee has called on Omani firms with expertise in software development to propose solutions for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets based on open-source platforms. The aim is to deploy these applications across government and institutional settings, meeting standard office software requirements. MTCIT said the government plans to sign a licensing agreement with the selected developer for a fixed term, as part of wider national efforts to build local technological capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign proprietary systems. Interested firms must submit a formal letter expressing their interest, along with a preliminary operational model of the proposed solution, company profile, commercial registration and valid business licence. A preliminary economic feasibility study and documents demonstrating experience and technical capability are also required. All submissions must be in PDF format and emailed to [email protected]. Submission deadline is July 20.
Observer
15 hours ago
- Observer
New tech office boosts Oman's digital transformation drive
MUSCAT: Elm, a digital solutions leader owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), has officially launched its new office in Muscat, underscoring its long-term ambition to participate in Oman's digital transformation and expand its regional footprint. The move marks Elm's first physical presence in Oman, a market it views as strategically aligned with its growth objectives and expertise in e-government platforms, cybersecurity, digital identity, and artificial intelligence-driven services. With a client base that spans government, corporate, and individual sectors in Saudi Arabia, Elm's entry into Oman reflects growing regional collaboration in the technology space. The office was inaugurated during a ceremony under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and attended by Ibrahim bin Saad Bishan, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Oman, as well as key officials from both countries. Elm's expansion aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises the digital economy and government modernisation. The company says it aims to introduce custom solutions to help Omani institutions accelerate digital transformation across sectors such as logistics, public services, and national security. The Muscat office is part of Elm's broader strategy to export its homegrown capabilities developed in Saudi Arabia. In recent years, Elm has gained prominence for building and managing platforms such as Absher (a government service portal), and Tawakklna (a Covid-19 health platform), which have become integral to the Saudi government's digital infrastructure. Elm's expansion aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises the digital economy and government modernisation. Elm's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Official Spokesperson, Majid bin Saad al Arifi, said the decision to establish a base in Oman reflects the company's confidence in the local ecosystem. 'The opening of Elm's office in the Sultanate of Oman represents a strategic step that reflects our strong belief in the capabilities and digital potential of this market,' said Al Arifi. 'Through our presence, we aim to build high-value partnerships and provide tailored technological solutions that enhance government performance and promote a sustainable digital economy — delivering meaningful impact to citizens, investors, and our institutional partners alike,' he added. Elm's entry comes at a time when Oman is actively seeking private sector collaboration to fast-track its digital agenda, offering streamlined regulatory frameworks and incentives for foreign investment in the ICT sector. Elm's presence is also expected to generate skilled employment opportunities and knowledge transfer, as the company often works closely with local partners and public entities to localise its services. The Muscat office will serve as a regional hub to coordinate projects, engage with stakeholders, and adapt solutions to Oman's unique priorities — reinforcing the economic and technological ties between Muscat and Riyadh.
