The company also manufactures passive cooled battery enclosures for installing the batteries. The enclosures protect the batteries against high ambient temperature conditions experienced in desert environment.

OSS uses solar modules manufactured by Siemens Solar of Germany in its systems.

Raw materials such as mechanical/ structural items and hardware are purchased from local approved suppliers and vendors. Other items/components such as electronics equipment, batteries, electrical accessories, etc., are generally imported from the US and Europe, says Rao.

Apart from Siemens Solar, OSS represents GNB Technologies of the US and other companies from the US and Europe.

Established in 1991, the company went into an increase in capacity during 1997 when it bagged a major project from Etisalat, the UAE.

OSS' present infrastructure can handle up to 500 kW (peak) capacity of solar power systems of various types.

Speaking on new developments in the company, Rao says OSS has recently introduced a hybrid passive cooled shelter for housing telecom equipment and batteries. These shelters are aimed at improving the performance of equipment.

In addition to passive cooling of equipment, small capacity (1.0TR) conventional air-conditioner powered by solar panels and operated only during day time using advanced microprocessor technology is provided in the system. This arrangement will allow to increase the telecom equipment load slightly.

OSS has also introduced user-friendly software for remote monitoring and control of solar power systems to facilitate easy monitoring and maintenance of systems using PCs. Since the solar power systems installed at remote locations are not easily accessible, the remote monitoring software can help the maintenance crew to monitor the system in a better way and to take appropriate steps to avoid system failures.

"OSS is looking at both horizontal and vertical integration and also would like to diversify in areas of telecommunication and instrumentation," continues Rao.

"Products such as wind generator power system, water pumping system, solar water heaters, DC/UPS power systems are examples of horizontal integration," he says.

larly, OSS has been focusing on introducing telecom equipment such as SCADA systems, RTUs and instruments which go in conjunction with solar system and is looking for reliable partners in these fields.

Quantum-wise, about 70 per cent of OSS' projects are in Oman. However, OSS has carried out much bigger projects outside of Oman, hence in value terms 60 per cent of revenue comes from projects abroad, says Rao.

"We deal with turnkey projects, hence volume of export depends on projects in hand outside Oman," he says.

"OSS has chalked out plans to expand our market to other Middle East countries and Africa where renewable energy solutions are most viable.

''We are also looking forward to strategic partners to export our systems to the neighbouring countries.

"We have already initiated steps to get OSS registered in oil and gas sector companies in the region. Once this formality is completed, we will be in a position to push our exports up," says Rao.

On some of the major projects carried out by the company, Rao says the Etisalat contract is on the verge of completion. The project, valued at $10 million, involved design, manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning of passive cooled shelters and solar photovoltaic power systems for powering 33 remotely-located GSM base stations. OSS won this project against stiff competition from multinational companies, he says.

OSS has also recently completed a project for design, manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning of solar photovoltaic power systems for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) for powering eight radio base stations at interior operation sites.

OSS has also been involved with the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) for installing Oman's first wind-powered, electric water-pumping system at a remote site around 900 km south of Muscat. This system was installed for research purposes for using wind energy for irrigation pump.

The weather monitoring station comprising temperature, wind speed/direction, humidity along with barometric pressure measuring equipment was installed to investigate the relationship between weather condition and power output. The system is in operation for more than three years and is used to assess and analyse the role of wind power amongst other renewable energy sources, in abstraction and desalination of ground water supplies for irrigation purposes, says Rao.

"With the experience in the above project, OSS has submitted a proposal for installing a 2 MW wind farm at Thumrait, which can meet 60 per cent of energy requirements of the region. [QQ]If this proposal materialises, it will be a landmark achievement for OSS in using renewable energy sources in a big way in the Gulf region," adds Rao.

He expresses concern that though renewable power sources, especially solar photovoltaic power systems, are most viable in this region, so far this has not grown to meet the power needs of common man.

"One reason for this is the very high-energy requirements for air-conditioning. This calls for more solar panels and battery capacity. We expect that the market will grow slowly depending upon the module prices," says Rao.

He says though OSS is the only company to manufacture photovoltaic solar systems in the country, there are half a dozen multinational companies represented by local companies selling these systems.

"Competition is very stiff wherein a manufacturing company has to compete with these trading agents who are willing to sell the systems at very low prices because they do not add local content to these systems," he says.

"However, prudent customers such as PDO, Oman Tel, MOI and Etisalat, to name a few, have well established product and supplier evaluation procedures and go by the quality of products, technical strength, infrastructure of supplier and after sales service rather than just product price. We have an advantage over others in these respects," Rao says.

has a well-established quality system and the company is ISO 9001 certified.

"International agencies such as the World Bank and United Nations (UN) should promote solar power projects in the region for creating public awareness. More projects of small capacity such as water pumping, desalination units, village house lighting systems operated by solar and renewable energy sources will give a boost to the industry and increase market demand," says Rao.