The pilot project will be run in association with SolarWorld and Qatar Solar Technologies, an official said yesterday.
The move comes after the company, together with Qatar Foundation International (QFI) promised at Earth Day in Qatar last year to have solar technology and environmental-education opportunities brought to Qatari schools.
“To broaden the impact of the initiative, the Solar Schools pilot programme will leverage existing QFI partnerships to teach students in both Qatar and the US about how modern technology can be used to produce clean and efficient energy,” the official said.
All the four schools in Qatar are partners of QFI.
Qatar’s extensive building plans for the 2022 World Cup include state-of-the-art “zero carbon cooling equipment utilising solar technology” to cool venues, fan fests and training sites. “Over the next 11 years leading up to the games, education on solar technology and green initiatives will play an essential role,” the official said.
GreenGulf chief executive officer Omran al-Kuwari said: “We are very excited to be involved with this important initiative. Educating the youth on how to be efficient with energy usage is the key to developing a culture of environmental awareness in our society. The Solar Schools project introduces students to solar energy which has the potential to play a significant role in our region for generations to come.”
GreenGulf has begun co-ordination sessions with Qatari schools as the first step in realising this innovative global initiative.
This week, GreenGulf is meeting with teachers and students to gather ideas on how they want to explore using solar power. For example, at a meeting between Al Eman Independent Secondary School for Girls and GreenGulf representatives, students expressed interest in building a solar-powered desalination tank or harnessing solar energy to power a wheel chair for the disabled.
“These young people will one day be the leaders of green energy and environmental initiatives,” said QFI executive director Maggie Mitchell Salem.
