Bahrain’s first solar panel manufacturer is blazing a trail for renewables

Bahrain’s first solar panel manufacturer is blazing a trail for renewables

within the next decade. This — and the global push to transition away from dirty fuels — means that the kingdom is looking for ways to diversify its economy and energy mix.

Oil provides about 70% of government revenue — but Bahrain’s reserves are

of solar to the country’s energy mix — enough to power around 380 US homes. It’s a drop in the ocean, but it hopefully marks the beginning of a sea change.

This is good news for Solar One, Bahrain’s first solar panels company. Since its founding in 2017, the startup boasts of contributing

“Renewable energy is one of the key sectors that are growing in the region,” says Husain Mohamed Rajab, CEO of Tamkeen, a government agency that supports small businesses and has invested in Solar One. “The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is one of the most energy rich regions globally and that drives a lot of interest from governments to support growth and development of any activity in the sector.”

Solar One has the capacity to produce 60,000 solar panels a year. It sells them to private clients, such as schools, homes or factories, to supply their power, with excess electricity sent to the grid.

In this way, the company is