The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) and Bahrain Steel have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake Bahrain's largest rooftop solar energy project, boasting a capacity of 100 megawatts. As a leading global supplier of high-grade iron-ore pellets, Bahrain Steel's initiative was praised by Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, the President of EWA. He highlighted the project's significance in achieving Bahrain's goals of diversifying energy sources, addressing climate change challenges, and safeguarding the environment and natural resources.

The MoU aligns with Bahrain's Energy Transition Plan, marking a milestone towards the government's target of relying on renewable energy sources for 5% of the Kingdom's electricity production by 2025, escalating to 20% by 2035. The solar energy project by Bahrain Steel will utilize seven connection points in EWA's distribution network, employing net metering to enable consumers to generate and contribute excess power to the national grid.

To accurately monitor electricity production and consumption, smart meters will be installed. The solar panels, with a total capacity of 100 megawatts, will be deployed in three stages over the next three years within the boundaries of Bahrain Steel. The project is anticipated to generate approximately 167,000 megawatt-hours of solar energy annually, constituting 41% of Bahrain Steel's consumption. This substantial contribution is expected to reduce carbon emissions annually and support the nation's aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

Meshary Al Judaimi, Chairman of Bahrain Steel, emphasized the importance of transformative initiatives in fostering a greener and more sustainable future. He expressed the company's commitment to supporting Bahrain's reduction of CO2 emissions and contributing to the development of the industrial and business sectors at local, regional, and international levels.