Spanish water infrastructure firm GS Inima has secured financing to develop a 6.3 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar photovoltaic plant at the Barka V desalination facility in Oman.
The solar plant, which will be developed for self-consumption, is expected to supply around 11% of Barka V’s energy demand through 2044.
Construction will cover 40,000 square metres, with GS Inima responsible for the design, execution, operation, and maintenance of the facility.
The financing package was backed by COFIDES, a Spanish state-supported development finance institution focused on promoting international investment and sustainability. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The move is another step in the integration of renewable energy into water production, a process that is traditionally energy and carbon intensive.
Located on Oman’s northern coast, Barka V came online in June 2024 and is GS Inima’s first project in the Middle East. The facility produces 100,000 cubic metres of potable water per day, supplying more than 800,000 residents in Muscat and the Batinah region—among the most populous areas in the country.
This marks only the second desalination plant in Oman to integrate solar energy into its operations, underlining growing efforts by both public and private sectors to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in water infrastructure.
GS Inima said the initiative reflects its broader strategy to lead in hybrid water-energy solutions, particularly in regions facing water stress and abundant solar resources.
Oman, like other Gulf states, has been accelerating its shift towards renewable energy as part of broader sustainability commitments, including its 2040 Vision to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The company described the project as a significant milestone in its ambition to deliver sustainable, resilient infrastructure globally, amid rising demand for low-emission water solutions.
