GlassPoint Solar and Petroleum Development Oman announced today a joint initiative to develop SolaRISE, a solar energy centre focused on testing new solar technologies at scale in oilfields. The announcement was made at the World Heavy Oil Congress, which opened today in Muscat.
“GlassPoint designed the only solar steam generator made for oilfield deployment,” said Steven Moss, CEO of GlassPoint. “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.”
SolaRISE will focus on cost reduction, easing oilfield integration and automating operations, and will also test solar solutions for other industrial processes. The centre will host training and educational workshops and plans to give Omani engineers applied research projects to develop the country’s solar energy knowledge base and expertise.
Raoul Restucci, Managing Director of PDO, said “PDO’s 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 center will help us build Oman’s renewable energy future and create sustainable long-term value for the country.”
GlassPoint and PDO first partnered seven years ago, providing solar energy to faciliate oil production operations. GlassPoint uses mirrors in a greenhouse structure to concentrate sunlight and boil water, creating steam which is in turn used to facilitate oil production. They are also building Mirrah, one of the largest solar plants in the world.
