Bahrain has unveiled the country's first ‘solar home,’ which is connected to the government's electricity network through a net metering system.

It allows individuals and establishments to install and use solar energy in their homes safely, thus saving substantially on monthly utility bills, reported state news agency BNA.

The system was approved by the Council of Ministers, headed by HRH the Prime Minister, in January after it was earlier passed by the Coordinating Committee under the chairmanship of HRH the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, it added.

The solar home was inaugurated by Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday (March 28) in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Oil, the Ministry of Housing, Tatweer Petroleum, the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), the Sustainable Energy Unit and the project contractor.

Capital Governor Sheikh Hesham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa was also present along with senior officials, said the report.

The ‘solar home’, which boasts 24 solar panels capable of producing 7.8 kW of electricity, was set up at a cost of BD3,500 ($9,251). The house belongs to Hussein Sanad of Al Mussala area in Jidhafs.

The power generated translates to a total capacity of 12,500 units per year and is a third of the annual consumption by the household, said the BNA report.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Mirza said this and other renewable energy projects had been implemented as part of the directives of His Majesty the King, His Royal Highness the Prime Minister and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

The minister pointed out that the project had been completed in two phases. "The first was the EWA completing all official procedures in reviewing engineering details of various components and ensuring they complied with all technical and design requirements according to existing laws and regulations, while the second phase consisted of the actual construction," he explained.

"The house is the first to be connected to the government network with a net netering system that allows individuals and establishments to install and use solar energy in their homes or facilities safely, thus saving substantially on monthly utility bills," he stated.

Dr Mirza said experts and specialists from the Sustainable Energy Unit (SEU) were willing to assist individuals and institutions wishing to install such systems. He said the cost of power produced in this way is much lower than conventional energy.

EWA, he stated, would continue to find alternatives to increasing efficiency of energy use and its economic feasibility through financing facilities by banks.

He said steps are being taken to install such systems on the roofs of industrial companies and government buildings such as schools, hospitals and health centers to maximise the use of solar energy, he added.