Bahrain's Energy Sources: Exploring The Country's Power Options

Bahrain's energy supply is largely derived from its domestic fossil fuel resources, with oil playing a significant role. The country is a prominent producer and exporter of oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. However, Bahrain has also recognised the importance of renewable energy sources and has implemented measures to promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan aims to increase the utilisation of renewable energy sources, with a focus on solar power, to achieve its environmental goals.

Oil and petroleum products

Oil and gas remain a strong component of Bahrain's economy. As a small non-OPEC Gulf oil producer, Bahrain has approximately 124.6 million barrels of proven oil reserves. The country receives its oil revenues from two fields: the onshore Bahrain Field and the offshore Abu Safah field, which it shares with Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) is the national oil company of Bahrain. BAPCO was established in 1929 in Canada by the Standard Oil Company of California for oil exploration activities in Bahrain. In 1930, it obtained the only oil concession in Bahrain, and in 1931, it discovered oil for the first time. On 31 May 1932, BAPCO discovered the Bahrain Field (Awali Field). After exporting oil and constructing a refinery, it started with a 10,000-barrel-per-day refining capacity in 1936. Later that year, the Standard Oil Company of California signed an agreement with Texaco, which acquired half of BAPCO's shares. In 1975, more than 60% of BAPCO's shares were acquired by the Government of Bahrain, and in 1980, the government took over all of BAPCO's shares. In 1978, the oil sector was nationalized, and BAPCO assumed full control of the national energy sector.

In April 2018, the Bahraini government announced its biggest oil and gas discovery since the 1930s. An extensive reservoir was discovered off Bahrain's west coast, estimated to contain about 80 billion barrels of tight oil in place. Additionally, the government announced the discovery of 10-20 trillion cubic feet of onshore "Pre-Unayzah" deep gas reserves beneath the legacy Bahrain Field.

Revenues from oil exports account for over 70% of the Bahraini government's income since 2007. As a result, the government is actively seeking to diversify its economy and income sources from other sectors. Despite these efforts, Bahrain continues to invest in its oil and gas infrastructure. In 2021, the government implemented a series of reforms restructuring the oil and gas sector, including consolidating the National Oil and Gas Authority into the Ministry of Oil. Bahrain is also carrying out a $7 billion upgrade of the BAPCO refinery, increasing its processing capacity to 400,000 barrels per day.

Bahrain is exploring Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology to deploy across its oil and gas and industrial sectors. The country is also focusing on the development of the petrochemical industry, with five petrochemical sub-sectors growing rapidly in recent years: construction chemicals, water treatment chemicals, polymer and plastic additives, paints and coating additives, and oil field chemicals.

Natural gas

Banagas, a large natural gas company, plays a significant role in the country's natural gas sector. The company's contribution aligns with Bahrain's efforts to expand its exploration of energy sources and promote the production of gas and petrochemicals.

The country has been working towards diversifying its sources of income by establishing various sophisticated projects in the extractive and manufacturing industries, as well as in the services and financial sectors. This diversification strategy helps reduce the country's dependence on a single energy source and promotes economic growth.

In addition to natural gas, Bahrain also has a significant oil sector, with a history of being the first country in the region to discover crude oil in 1932. The country's oil and gas sectors collectively contribute to its status as a net energy exporter.

Solar power

Bahrain is home to Solar One, the country's first solar panel manufacturing facility. Solar One aims to produce high-quality solar panels using state-of-the-art technology to provide clean and free energy for its population. With a manufacturing capacity of 60,000 panels per year, Solar One can produce enough panels to generate 15 megawatts of power. This capacity can provide electricity to local homes and businesses, reducing Bahrain's reliance on traditional energy sources.

In addition to panel manufacturing, Bahrain has also received several bids for solar power projects. In 2024, the Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs (EWA) received seven bids for a 72-megawatt multi-site, grid-tied, solar photovoltaic power project. This project includes rooftop, ground-mounted, and car park solar power systems, as well as electric vehicle charging stations at various locations, such as the Bahrain International Circuit and the University of Bahrain. Five proposals were accepted, while two were suspended. The project is expected to be procured on a Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) basis for a 20-year period.

Furthermore, Bahrain has plans for a larger-scale solar power project. The Bahrain Solar PV Park is a proposed 100-megawatt solar power project to be developed in Southern Bahrain. With a projected construction commencement date of 2026, the project is expected to enter commercial operation by 2028. This project demonstrates Bahrain's commitment to exploring and adopting renewable energy sources.

These initiatives in solar power generation and infrastructure reflect Bahrain's efforts to meet and exceed its climate goals, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and provide sustainable energy alternatives for its population.

Wind power

Bahrain has been exploring wind power as a source of energy in recent years. The country aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2035 and reach net-zero emissions by 2060. To achieve these goals, Bahrain has partnered with renewable energy companies to develop wind energy projects and establish wind farms.

One notable example is the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC), which integrates wind turbines into its design. The BWTC is a 240-metre-high, 50-floor, twin tower complex located in Manama, Bahrain. It is the first skyscraper in the world to utilise wind turbines, with three 225 kW wind turbines supported by skybridges between the two towers. These turbines are expected to provide 11% to 15% of the towers' total power consumption, which is sufficient to power approximately 300 homes, 258 hospitals, 17 industrial plants, and 33 car engines. The unique design of the buildings funnels wind through the gap, increasing the potential to generate electricity.

In addition to the BWTC, Bahrain has also attracted the interest of international companies for wind energy development. For instance, UAE-based renewable energy company Masdar has partnered with Bahrain's Bapco Energies to explore the development of near-shore and offshore wind farms in the country. This collaboration could lead to a potential 2GW capacity for wind energy projects, contributing to Bahrain's environmental targets and creating new economic opportunities.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, consisting of 40 islands in the Arabian Gulf, has experienced a high demand for power due to the expansion of industrial and residential areas. To meet this demand, the country has been studying the potential of wind power through statistical analysis of long-term wind speed records. The Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC) project is a pioneering effort in this direction, harnessing the north wind with its three wind turbines. This marks the first attempt in Bahrain to generate electrical power from wind energy.

Overall, Bahrain is actively exploring wind power as a source of energy to reduce its environmental impact and diversify its energy mix. These efforts align with the country's sustainability goals and contribute to the global transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Waste-to-energy

Bahrain is an archipelago of around 33 islands, with a population of around 1.2 million people. It is one of the highest per capita waste generators worldwide, estimated at 1.67–1.80 kg per person per day. The country produces the largest amount of waste per person among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, despite being the smallest nation in the region.

Bahrain generates more than 1.2 million tons of solid waste every year, with daily garbage production exceeding 4,500 tons. Municipal solid waste is characterised by a high percentage of organic material (around 60 per cent), mainly composed of food waste. The presence of high percentages of recyclables, such as paper (13 per cent), plastics (7 per cent) and glass (4 per cent), makes Bahraini municipal solid waste a good recycling feedstock. However, informal sectors are currently responsible for the collection of recyclables and recycling activities.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is divided into five governorates: Manama, Muharraq, Middle, Southern and Northern. Waste collection and disposal operations in Bahrain are managed by a couple of private contractors. Gulf City Cleaning Company is active in Muharraq and Manama, while Sphinx Services is responsible for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Areas. The prevalent solid waste management scenario is to collect solid waste and dump it at the municipal landfill site at Askar.

Askar is the only existing landfill/dump site in Bahrain, catering to municipal wastes, agricultural wastes and non-hazardous industrial wastes. Spread over an area of more than 700 acres, the landfill is expected to reach its capacity within the next few years. The proximity of the Askar landfill to urban habitats has been a cause of major environmental concern. Waste accumulation is increasing at a rapid pace, which is bound to have serious impacts on air, soil and groundwater quality in the surrounding areas.

To address this issue, the Bahraini government has launched the Askar Waste-to-Energy Project, a pioneering Public-Private Partnership venture based on a Build-Operate-Transfer model. The $480 million waste incineration facility will treat 390,000 tons of solid waste per year, generating 25 megawatts (MW) of power, which will be fed into the national grid. The project is expected to increase the lifespan of the Askar landfill, which is filling up rapidly and would have reached its capacity by 2016. The project, expected to commence operations in 2013, will also ease the solid waste management situation in the capital city of Manama and provide an alternative means of power production in the country.

The waste-to-energy market in the GCC region has witnessed 20-25 per cent growth in the past three years, and this trend is expected to continue until 2017, with more waste-to-energy plants established. The main factors driving the market are the growing population, high per capita waste generation, and high economic growth.

Bahrain generates about 1.5 million tons per annum of municipal solid waste. The Aksar project in Bahrain is expected to contribute an additional 25 MW of power generation capacity. Bahrain is the second country in the GCC to implement waste-to-energy projects on a large scale, after Qatar.

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