Qatar Solar Energy deploys Siemens' industrial microgrid

Qatar Solar Energy is all set to reduce electricity costs, curb carbon emissions and benefit from a more stable power supply with Siemens deploying the Middle East's first microgrid designed for industrial use.Siemens will provide the microgrid's control panel; power meters, photovoltaic inverters and Siemens software for distributed energy optimisation (DEOP) to monitor the network's energy flow.Qatar Solar Energy manufactures solar panels and related electronic equipment with the aim of making the country a global renewable energy technologies development and leadership hub.The microgrid at Qatar Solar Energy’s factory in Doha will comprise a mix of energy sources -- the local grid, solar panels, battery storage, back-up generators and cooling system.Generating as much as 1 megawatt from the sun, the hybrid network will enable Qatar Solar Energy to trim its electricity bills by maximising use of solar power and storing energy in batteries to satisfy on-peak demand.“Qatar Solar Energy is committed to providing innovative products that will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in Qatar and around the world. By deploying this microgrid from Siemens, we will prove that clean power is reliable and affordable at an industrial scale, and this enables us to press ahead with our growth strategy in the expanding market for renewable energy,” said its chairman Salim Abbassi.The Siemens-supplied microgrid will be the first at an industrial site in the region to be connected to a conventional power grid. It has the potential to serve as a model for other Middle Eastern businesses and industries that want to cut their operating expenses while contributing to the fight against climate change.Microgrids are transforming power supply systems worldwide. Solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, together with grid automation and controls that are more stable and intuitive, spur the development of localised, autonomous grids.These new networks enable campuses, industries, and remote areas to operate their own grids. They also can go a step further and accelerate the emergence of prosumers – or consumers who generate surplus energy and sell it in the microgrid or to the main grid, if it's connected.“This project will be a showcase for Siemens to demonstrate its grid edge capabilities and the value it brings to industrial customers and buildings by helping them to lower energy costs; rein in carbon emissions and ensure a more dependable power supply,” said Helmut von Struve, chief executive of Siemens in the Middle East.