Is Bahrain transitioning to solar energy projects?

After the establishment of the Sustainable Energy Unit (SEU) in Bahrain in 2014, a radical transition toward launching solar energy projects can clearly be observed. The SEU was established in collaboration between the national government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

How much solar radiation does Bahrain receive?

Bahrain receives approximately 6 kWh/m² /day of solar radiation ( Alnaser et al., 2014 ). The country's global horizontal irradiance is 2160 kWh/m² /year, while direct normal radiation is 2050 kWh/m² /year ( IRENA,, 2014 ). In 2016, the average daily sunshine hours exceeded 10 hours, further emphasizing the potential for solar energy in Bahrain ( IGA,, 2016 ).

Is Bahrain's first solar panel company the start of a sea change?

This is good news for Solar One, Bahrain’s first solar panels company. Since its founding in 2017, the startup boasts of contributing over two megawatts of solar to the country’s energy mix — enough to power around 380 US homes. It’s a drop in the ocean, but it hopefully marks the beginning of a sea change.

What is the largest solar carport in Bahrain?

The solar plant at Dragon City, with a capacity of 5.7 MW, is the largest solar carport plant in Bahrain and ranks as the second-largest solar project in the Kingdom. Over the next 25 years, it is expected to generate 9,000,000 kWh of clean renewable energy annually, substantially reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.

How big is Bahrain's photovoltaic capacity?

According to estimates by the International Renewable Energy Agency, Bahrain’s photovoltaic (PV) capacity was around 10 MW at that time. Large-scale plants offer one way to rapidly scale up renewable energy deployment. One notable project is the Askar landfill site in southern governorate.

Is solar PV a social issue in Bahrain?

Although there are fewer peer-reviewed studies on the social aspects of solar PV compared to technical studies, the present research sheds light on public perspectives on this topic in Bahrain. In fact, it used a cross-sectional design for this purpose.