US-based GlassPoint Solar, a leading supplier of solar energy to the oil and gas industry, said it has launched SolaRISE, a new technology centre in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the sultanate’s leading exploration and production company.

SolaRISE, which stands for Solar Research, Innovation and Sustainability in Energy, is a joint initiative formed to develop and test next generation solar technologies in the oilfield environment, said a statement from the company.

The centre will focus on continuous cost reduction, including new concepts and designs to reduce material costs, ease oilfield integration and automate operations. It will also pilot and evaluate solutions for using solar energy for other industrial processes in Oman and around the world.

GlassPoint’s partnership with PDO began over seven years ago. After a successful pilot programme, the duo began building Miraah, which will be one of the world’s largest solar plants. The first 100 MWt of Miraah began operating last year and is meeting all performance targets. An additional 200 MWt will come on stream by next year.

The new technology centre is already under development a few kilometres away from Miraah in southern Oman. Plans are in place to test and evaluate a number of innovative concepts over the next several years.

These developments could be integrated into the later stages of Miraah construction and future GlassPoint projects with PDO and other partners worldwide.

GlassPoint CEO Steven Moss said: "Our company is continuously innovating and improving its technology in response to the needs of our customers."

“With PDO’s support, new technologies and materials developed in our labs will now be deployed at scale in the desert and perfected against oil and gas standards,” he stated.

“We designed the only solar steam generator made for oilfield deployment. As a pioneer in enhanced oil recovery and the growing energy convergence, PDO will provide valuable insights as we test, refine and scale future solutions for the oilfield and beyond,” he added.

Raoul Restucci, managing director of PDO, said: “Our successful partnership with GlassPoint has put Oman on the global solar energy map. While oil and gas will continue to be fundamental to our energy mix, we are developing innovative renewable solutions to create new growth opportunities for the company as well as for the nation.”

“As we move towards becoming a fully diversified energy company, the SolaRISE technology centre will help us build Oman’s renewable energy future and create sustainable long-term value for the country,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service