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Observer
18-06-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman and EU target energy synergies through innovation and storage
MUSCAT, JUNE 18 The Sultanate Oman and the European Union (EU) are exploring deeper collaboration to accelerate the energy transition through innovative technologies, smarter infrastructure, and long-duration storage systems. This was the key message that emerged from a session of the EU-Oman Energy & Water Collaboration Forum, held recently in Muscat under the theme 'How Can Oman and the EU Work Together to Optimise the Energy Mix?' The high-level panel brought together energy experts from Oman and Europe to explore how partnerships can help optimise energy resources, enhance grid resilience, and support Oman's ambitious sustainability targets. Moderator Said al Kamyani, Sustainability Specialist, set the tone by highlighting the urgency of building diversified and secure energy systems. He guided the discussion across a range of topics, including regulatory frameworks, advanced technologies, and the growing role of energy storage in stabilising renewables. Thuraiya al Wahaibi, Senior Product Engineer at Nama Power and Water Procurement (Nama PWP), shared Oman's clean energy targets of 30% renewables by 2030 and 60% by 2040, alongside net-zero emissions by 2050. She outlined Nama PWP's roadmap, which includes more than eight upcoming solar and wind projects, as well as ongoing studies into pumped hydro and geothermal energy. 'Oman's regulatory environment and public-private partnership model are strong foundations,' she said, 'but scaling up will require stronger collaboration on technologies like smart grids, storage, and system integration.' Dr Yves-Laurent Beck, Hydropower Project Manager at French utility EDF, emphasised the suitability of pumped hydro energy storage for Oman's mountainous terrain. Citing EDF's global expertise and its work on the Hatta Pumped Storage Plant in the UAE, he advocated for long-term collaboration and capacity-building in Oman. 'Pumped hydro with variable-speed turbines can offer flexibility and grid stability, particularly as renewable energy sources become dominant,' Dr Beck noted. Storage solutions were further explored by Paul Smith, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Energy Dome. He introduced the company's CO₂ Battery—an innovative long-duration storage solution with a 30-year lifespan that uses carbon dioxide in a closed cycle. 'Our technology is a cost-effective answer to grid intermittency and is fully compatible with green hydrogen production,' Smith explained. 'Oman's ambition to lead in hydrogen makes it an ideal partner for such solutions.' Henrico van den Boomen, CEO of stressed the importance of modernising grid infrastructure in parallel with the rollout of renewables. Drawing from the Dutch experience, he cautioned against underestimating the complexity of grid adaptation. 'Europe faced delays due to slow planning on local balancing and smart systems,' he said. 'Oman has the advantage of foresight—now is the time to invest in decentralised systems and advanced energy management.' Khalfan Naser Said al Burtamani, Chief Commercial Officer at Nama Electricity Distribution, shared Oman's progress in digital infrastructure. He pointed to the deployment of smart meters—now covering 77% of the system—and the SABIQ prepayment platform. 'Advanced Metering Infrastructure is a game-changer,' he said. 'But we also need policies that keep pace with innovation, especially as grid pressure, cybersecurity and resilience become more complex.' The session closed with a consensus on the need for flexible, forward-looking regulatory frameworks and stakeholder coordination. Panellists agreed that technologies like CO₂ batteries and pumped hydro are essential to support the stability and scalability of Oman's renewable and hydrogen ambitions.
Observer
27-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman ramps up investment in smart utility systems
MUSCAT: Oman's transition towards smart energy and water infrastructure is gathering pace, with leading public and private sector voices calling for stronger investments in digitalisation, AI and data-driven decision-making. These technologies, experts agree, are no longer optional — they are essential to meet the country's growing demand and sustainability goals. These insights were shared during Session 2: 'How to Fund the Next-Generation Smart Energy & Water Systems?' at the EU-Oman Energy & Water Collaboration Forum, held at Crowne Plaza OCEC on May 20–21, 2025. The forum, sponsored by Nama Group and the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, was moderated by Said al Kamyani, Sustainability Specialist. Speaking at the session, Jamie Hoyzer, CEO of Siemens Oman, stressed that digital transformation is key to enabling Oman's energy transition. 'Oman's energy demand is expected to triple by 2050. Smart grids, AI and predictive systems aren't luxuries — they're critical infrastructure,' he said. He highlighted a successful local project in which Siemens used AI to optimise a chilled water plant's operations, achieving a guaranteed 36% reduction in energy use — validated through performance guarantees from a local bank. Bringing in a European perspective, Moisés Blanco Maceiras, Adviser to the Secretary-General for EU Funds at Spain's Ministry of Finance, explained how Spain has effectively deployed smart infrastructure at scale. 'We've rolled out more than 27 million smart electric metres and supported AI-enabled irrigation and citizen-centric utility platforms through layered financing — EU grants, public-private partnerships and national co-funding,' he noted. Blanco encouraged Oman to consider similar multi-source funding models to accelerate its smart infrastructure deployment. From the utility side, Issam al Ismaili, Chief Commercial Officer of Nama Water Services, shared how digital tools are already making an impact in Oman. 'We've deployed over 700,000 smart metres and reduced non-revenue water from over 40% to 37.1%, with a target of 33% by the end of this year,' he said. Smart metres are not only cutting losses, but also giving customers access to real-time consumption data, helping to promote conservation and engagement. Complementing this, Fahad al Harrasi, General Manager of ICT at Nama Water Services, emphasised the importance of enabling technologies and local talent. 'Smart infrastructure is more than hardware — it's a data ecosystem that supports long-term sustainability and creates jobs for Omanis,' he stated. He also noted Nama's successful public-private partnerships under a build-operate-transfer model, which are driving digital transformation in the sector. Speakers agreed that to sustain momentum, Oman must continue aligning its policies, financing tools and human capital strategies. AI integration, workforce development and stronger public-private collaboration emerged as the top priorities for scaling demand-side innovation in utilities.
