Kahramaa

Last updated
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation
Kahramaa
Company type Public
Industry Energy
Water
Founded2000 (2000)
Headquarters,
Area served
State of Qatar
Key people
Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al- Kuwari (KAHRAMAA's President)
Products Electricity
Water
ServicesUtility provider
Website www.km.qa

Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation), was established in July 2000 to regulate and maintain the supply of electricity and water for the population of Qatar. [1] Since inception, Kahramaa has operated as an independent corporation on a commercial basis with a total capital of eight billion Qatari riyals. Kahramaa is the sole transmission and distribution system owner and operator for the electricity and water sector in Qatar.

Contents

History

During Qatar's years as a British protectorate in the 20th century, water and electricity was regulated by the British under two separate entities known as the State Electricity Department and the State Water Department. [1] After the British announced their plans of withdrawing from the country in 1968, the state established the Ministry of Electricity and Water to regulate its electricity and water needs. [1] In July 2000, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) was established by emiri decree in order to regulate and maintain the supply of water and electricity for the Qatari population. [1]

Operations

The IWPP in Umm Al Houl Um Al Houl IWPP Qatar - March 2019.jpg
The IWPP in Umm Al Houl

In August 2015, the company announced that it would begin construction of Umm Al Houl Power, a desalination and power plant in the south of the country. The plant started its operations from July 2018. [2] The construction was estimated to cost around $2.75 billion and will have a capacity of 2520 MW and 136 million imperial gallons (620,000 m3) of potable water a day. [3]

Qatar's first major solar power plant was announced by Kahramaa in 2014, and was slated to begin operations by 2016. Its production capacity is expected to be 15 MW. [4] In December 2015, the company stated that it had signed an agreement with QatarEnergy for cooperation in the development of solar power plants. Kahramaa would retain 60% ownership of the plants constructed under the agreement, while QatarEnergy would retain the remaining 40%. [5]

Electricity sector

As of 2011, the electricity transmission networks consist of approximately 247 primary high voltage sub-stations. [6] The network is coupled with 10500 low and medium voltage sub-stations (11 kV). Its voltage sub-stations are supported by a total 4000 km of overhead lines and 8,500 kilometres (5,300 mi) of underground cables running across the country. [6] The National Control Center manages all network demand and data acquisition from generation plants and primary sub-stations.

Electricity generation

Generation of electrical energy in Qatar has increased over the past fifty years; the maximum load over the network during the period from 1988 to 2003 has risen from 941 MW to 2,312 MW. It reached 3,230 MW in 2006. By 2011, it had increased to 6,518 MW. [6] The company was producing around 8,600 MW by 2014; a 2,000 MW surplus when compared to the 6,600 MW of demand. [7] By 2020, the demand had risen to 8600 MW. [8]

Electricity generation capacity

Kahramaa's electricity generation capacity was 28,144 GWh in 2010. This figure increased to 30,730 GWh in 2011 and 34,788 GWh in 2012 before dropping slightly, to 34,688 GWh in 2013. Another large expansion was recorded in 2014, when the electricity production capacity was raised to 38,963 GWh. Overall, from 2010 to 2014, Kahramaa's electricity generation capacity was increased at an average annual rate of around 10%. [9]

Water sector

The water network in Qatar has been expanded extensively in recent years, the growth of urban areas; industry and agriculture has led to the increase in the length of the water network to 3,622 kilometres (2,251 mi) and expansion in the number of storage reservoirs to 23 with a total capacity of 259 million imperial gallons (1,180,000 m3) of potable water a day.[ citation needed ]

Water capacities

Statistical data in the water sector shows a remarkable growth in the capacities of water storage facilities. Such an increase has amounted to 259 million imperial gallons (1,180,000 m3) a year in 2006, in comparison to less than 200 million imperial gallons (910,000 m3) in 1988.[ citation needed ] The annual water capacity was recorded as 822 million imperial gallons (3,740,000 m3) in 2009 and by 2014 had increased to 1,088 million imperial gallons (4,950,000 m3). [9]

Water quality

To ensure safe and clean drinking water to high standards and quality, water is subject to daily random bacteriological and laboratory tests undertaken by Kahramaa. Samples are collected and tested from the storage reservoirs and networks up to the customers' storage facilities.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinorwig Power Station</span> Dam in Dinorwig, Wales

The Dinorwig Power Station, known locally as Electric Mountain, or Mynydd Gwefru, is a pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme, near Dinorwig, Llanberis in Snowdonia national park in Gwynedd, north Wales. The scheme can supply a maximum power of 1,728 MW (2,317,000 hp) and has a storage capacity of around 9.1 GWh (33 TJ).

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world. During the fiscal year (FY) 2022–23, the total electricity generation in the country was 1,844 TWh, of which 1,618 TWh was generated by utilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capacity factor</span> Electrical production measure

The net capacity factor is the unitless ratio of actual electrical energy output over a given period of time to the theoretical maximum electrical energy output over that period. The theoretical maximum energy output of a given installation is defined as that due to its continuous operation at full nameplate capacity over the relevant period. The capacity factor can be calculated for any electricity producing installation, such as a fuel consuming power plant or one using renewable energy, such as wind, the sun or hydro-electric installations. The average capacity factor can also be defined for any class of such installations, and can be used to compare different types of electricity production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in India</span>

India's solar power installed capacity was 73.32 GWAC as of 31 December 2023.

The electricity sector in Argentina constitutes the third largest power market in Latin America. It relies mostly on thermal generation and hydropower generation (36%). The prevailing natural gas-fired thermal generation is at risk due to the uncertainty about future gas supply.

The largely government owned electricity sector in Haiti referred to as Électricité d'Haïti (ED'H for "Haiti Electric Utility", faced a deep crisis characterized by dramatic shortages and the lowest coverage of electricity in the Western Hemisphere in 2006. with only about 38.5% of the population having regular access to electricity. In addition, Haiti's large share of thermal generation makes the country especially vulnerable to rising and unstable oil prices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Saudi Arabia</span>

EnergyinSaudi Arabia involves petroleum and natural gas production, consumption, and exports, and electricity production. Saudi Arabia is the world's leading oil producer and exporter. Saudi Arabia's economy is petroleum-based; oil accounts for 90% of the country's exports and nearly 75% of government revenue. The oil industry produces about 45% of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product, against 40% from the private sector. Saudi Arabia has per capita GDP of $20,700. The economy is still very dependent on oil despite diversification, in particular in the petrochemical sector.

The electricity sectors of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are integrated and supply 2.5 million customers from a combination of coal, peat, natural gas, wind and hydropower. In 2022, 34 TWh were generated. In 2018 natural gas produced 51.8%, while wind turbines generated 28.1%, coal 7%, and peat 6.8% of Ireland's average electricity demand. In 2020 wind turbines generated 36.3% of Ireland's electrical demand, one of the highest wind power proportions in the world. While the United Kingdom was one of the first countries in the world to deploy commercial nuclear power plants, the island of Ireland has never had a nuclear power plant built on either side of the Irish border. Nuclear power in Ireland was discussed in the 1960s and 1970s but ultimately never phased in, with legislation now in place explicitly forbidding its introduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Switzerland</span> Overview of the electricity sector in Switzerland

The electricity sector in Switzerland relies mainly on hydroelectricity, since the Alps cover almost two-thirds of the country's land mass, providing many large mountain lakes and artificial reservoirs suited for hydro power. In addition, the water masses drained from the Swiss Alps are intensively used by run-of-the-river hydroelectricity (ROR). With 9,052 kWh per person in 2008, the country's electricity consumption is relatively high and was 22% above the European Union's average.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Italy</span>

Renewable energy has developed rapidly in Italy over the past decade and provided the country a means of diversifying from its historical dependency on imported fuels. Solar power accounted for around 8% of the total electric production in the country in 2014, making Italy the country with the highest contribution from solar energy in the world that year. Rapid growth in the deployment of solar, wind and bio energy in recent years lead to Italy producing over 40% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in California</span> Overview of the use of energy in California, U.S.

Energy in California is a major area of the economy of California. California is the state with the largest population and the largest economy in the United States. It is second in energy consumption after Texas. As of 2018, per capita consumption was the fourth-lowest in the United States partially because of the mild climate and energy efficiency programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper in renewable energy</span> The use of copper in renewable energy

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal, hydro, biomass, and geothermal have become significant sectors of the energy market. The rapid growth of these sources in the 21st century has been prompted by increasing costs of fossil fuels as well as their environmental impact issues that significantly lowered their use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Taiwan</span>

Renewable energy in Taiwan contributed to 8.7% of national electricity generation as of end of 2013. The total installed capacity of renewable energy in Taiwan by the end of 2013 was 3.76 GW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrical energy in Kosovo</span> Overview of the electricity sector in Kosovo

The electricity sector of Kosovo relies on coal-fired power plants and is considered one of the sectors with the greatest potential of development. The inherited issues after the war in Kosovo and the transition period have had an immense effect on the progress of this sector.

Energy in the Faroe Islands is produced primarily from imported fossil fuels, with further contributions from hydro and wind power. Oil products are the main energy source, mainly consumed by fishing vessels and sea transport. Electricity is produced by oil, hydropower and wind farms, mainly by SEV, which is owned by all the municipalities of the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are not connected by power lines with continental Europe, and thus the archipelago cannot import or export electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Armenia</span>

The electricity sector of Armenia includes several companies engaged in electricity generation and distribution. Generation is carried out by multiple companies both state-owned and private. In 2020 less than a quarter of energy in Armenia was electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ras Abu Fontas</span> District in Ad-Dawhah, Qatar

Ras Abu Fontas is a coastal industrial area in Doha on the boundary with Al Wakrah Municipality in Qatar. The government has designated the district as a free economic zone starting in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Austria</span>

By the end of 2016 Austria already fulfilled their EU Renewables Directive goal for the year 2020. By 2016 renewable energies accounted to 33.5% of the final energy consumption in all sectors. The renewable energy sector is also accountable for hosting 41,591 jobs and creating a revenue of 7,219 million euros in 2016.

Ribble Power Station was a coal-fired electricity generating station on the River Ribble in Penwortham near Preston, Lancashire, England. The station was built by the Corporation of Preston to replace a small privately-run generating station in the town. It supplied electricity to Preston and the surrounding area from 1923 until 1976. The station was expanded with new equipment in 1943–47 which remained in operation until the power station was closed in 1976 and was subsequently demolished.

Blackburn power stations are a series of electricity generating stations that have provided electric power to the town of Blackburn and the wider area from 1895 to the present. The first station in Jubilee Street, Blackburn began operating in 1895. A new larger station known as Blackburn East or Whitebirk power station was commissioned in 1921 and was rebuilt in stages over the period 1942 to 1955. Whitebirk station closed in 1976. The 60 MW Blackburn Mill Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station has generated electricity since 2002. The Blackburn energy from waste (EfW) plant is currently (2020) being planned.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation". Industry ME. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. "Umm Al Houl Plant to be operational in July". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  3. "Qatar utility says to build $2.75 billion power and water plant". India Times. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. Lesley Walker (18 November 2014). "Kahramaa to open Qatar's first major solar power plant by 2016". Doha News. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. "Qatari state firms agree to invest in solar power". Daily Sabah. 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) - Report" (PDF). MEED Insight. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. Manar Zoheir (1 August 2014). "Kahramaa Powering Ahead". BQ Magazine. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  8. "Kahramaa Electricity Sector" . Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Average electricity generation grows by 10% in Qatar". Gulf Times. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.