Bahrain’s public park to rely on renewable energy

In a first in the region, Bahrain will get a public park that functions with the help of 100 per cent renewable energy, it was officially announced recently.

“The garden will be located in Janabiya in the Northern Governorate and will function with the help of wind and solar energy,” informed Northern Area Municipality Director Yousif Al Ghatam during the municipality’s participation in Bahrain International Garden Show (BIGS) 2016.

He said that the garden would depend on 100 per cent renewable energy during winter season and 80 per cent during summer season, when the weather is less windy in the Kingdom.

“The project is supported by the National Initiative of Agricultural Development (NIAD). It’s the first public garden in the region to operate on solar energy through solar panels, as well as wind energy through windmills,” Al Ghatam explained, adding that the opening date will be announced soon.

Gardens Department Head in the municipality Hussain Al Saffar commented that the idea of the garden comes to lessen pressure on governmental energy networks and achieve self-efficiency.

Elaborating the project, he said: “The garden will contain 23 solar panels with energy production of 250 watts for each panel. This is in addition to the two windmills that will produce electric energy of 300 watts.”

According to Al Saffar, the environment-friendly garden will also have low-consumption lights that will reduce electricity consumption by 64 per cent.

“Almost everything used in the garden is recycled, including fertilisers, furniture and other facilities,” Al Saffar added.