Is Bahrain's first solar panel company the start 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 over two megawatts 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.

Is Bahrain transitioning to solar energy projects?

After the establishment of the Sustainable Energy Unit (SEU) in Bahrain in 2014, a radical transition toward launching solar energy projects can clearly be observed. The SEU was established in collaboration between the national government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

What is the barrier to solar panels installation in Bahrain?

The results of the study did not identify a specific item perceived as the barrier to solar panels installation in Bahrain. This is likely due to the relatively new nature of solar panel installation in Bahrain and the participants' lack of clarity on the specifics involved.

How much does electricity cost in Bahrain?

The price of electricity in Bahrain is 0.048 U.S. Dollar per kWh for households and 0.077 U.S. Dollar for businesses (March 2023), including all components of the electricity bill such as the cost of power, distribution, and taxes.

Are Bahrainis willing to pay the full cost of solar PV systems?

According to the cross tabulation results, majority of participants who were willing to pay the full cost of residential solar PV systems were Bachelor degree holders with the average per-capita monthly income for Bahrainis.

How much solar radiation does Bahrain receive?

Bahrain receives approximately 6 kWh/m² /day of solar radiation ( Alnaser et al., 2014 ). The country's global horizontal irradiance is 2160 kWh/m² /year, while direct normal radiation is 2050 kWh/m² /year ( IRENA,, 2014 ). In 2016, the average daily sunshine hours exceeded 10 hours, further emphasizing the potential for solar energy in Bahrain ( IGA,, 2016 ).