Muscat – The Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) plans to prepare a regulatory framework to support the introduction of electric vehicles (EV) in Oman. According to AER officials, the authority believes that the recent rise in fuel prices in local market could open up the market for electric vehicles.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the AER executive director Qais bin Saud al Zakwani said, “The authority intends to carry out a review of international best practices in relation to the regulatory framework to support the introduction of electric vehicles in the sultanate.” He said, “The review will look into potential capital costs from development of public EV recharge stations, network and connection issues, safety issues, metering costs and the required license and code modifications.”
With regards to promoting the use of solar energy in homes, the AER launched the Sahim initiative in 2017 to facilitate the deployment of residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. In 2018, the authority intends to launch a tender for an initial tranche of PV installations in 10,000 residential units.
On significance of the Sahim initiative, the AER officials said the authority’s goal is to ensure that nearly ten per cent of total electricity generated in Oman should come from renewable resources by 2025.