Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 25, A consortium led by Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company, has secured the contract to develop the Ibri III solar independent power project in Oman. The group includes Korea Midland Power (Komipo), Al Khadra Partners, and OQ Alternative Energy, and formalized the arrangement through a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with Oman’s Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP) earlier this week.

The Ibri III development will feature a 500 MW solar power plant integrated with a 100 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), marking Oman’s first utility-scale solar-plus-storage project. Under the agreement, the consortium will handle the design, financing, ownership, construction, operation, and maintenance of both the solar facility and the battery system.

The tender for the project was launched by PWP in January 2024. Out of twelve initial submissions from local and international developers, nine qualified to submit proposals in June of the same year. In February, four final bidders, including the Masdar-led consortium, submitted detailed proposals. Following evaluation, the Masdar group was awarded the project, underscoring its track record in renewable energy development.

The Ibri III project carries an estimated investment of OMR 155 million (USD 403.1 million) and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027. It will be located adjacent to the Ibri II solar plant, a 500 MW facility inaugurated in January 2022 after a 13-month construction period. Together, the projects will establish Ibri as a central hub for Oman’s solar power generation.

Once operational, Ibri III is expected to provide electricity sufficient to power approximately 33,000 households. According to Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, the facility will add around 4% to the renewable share in the country’s electricity mix. This contribution aligns with Oman’s broader renewable energy ambitions and its commitment to diversifying the power sector.

Figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) show that by the end of 2024, Oman had deployed 672 MW of solar power. With the launch of the 500 MW Manah I solar project developed by Shanghai Electric, the nation has already surpassed 1 GW of cumulative solar capacity in 2025. These milestones reflect the rapid expansion of Oman’s solar sector.

The Omani government has set a clear objective of generating 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The Ibri III project, alongside existing and upcoming facilities, is expected to be a key step toward reaching this target. By integrating solar generation with battery storage, the project also aims to enhance grid reliability and improve energy security.