The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) recently signed a collaborative research agreement with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Smart Grid Center and the center’s extension in Qatar on the study, “Optimizing KAHRAMAA’s Smart Grid Capabilities and Setting its Future Roadmap.” KAHRAMAA attendees included His Excellency Engineer Essa Bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, president of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation and chair of the SGC-Q Steering Committee, and Mohamed Ali S A Almuhannadi, manager of the public relations and communications department.
The purpose of the agreement is for KAHRAMAA and the Smart Grid Center — both in Qatar and in College Station — to investigate smart grid technologies and challenges to implementation on the Qatar grid. It is harmonious with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Strategy. The study aims to give recommendations to advance efficient use of electric energy and transform electricity grid in Qatar into a smart grid; promote collaboration to investigate smart grid challenges and deliver innovative and effective smart grid solutions.
The Smart Grid Center and the extension in Qatar will assess the current KAHRAMAA grid in terms of smart grid applications and solutions; conduct a gap analysis study to define challenges and limitations of smart grid solutions implementation; develop a subtle and practical plan for successful smart grid application in KAHRAMAA and ultimately the State of Qatar.
The final outcome of the project will be recommendations for benchmarking and assessment criteria for the Smart Grid Roadmap in the State of Qatar and to present a final report that outlines the above recommendations.