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.

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.

Is solar energy suitable for Bahrain?

Bahrain has the opportunity to use solar energy, as it receives an estimated solar radiation of 6 kWh/m²/day ( 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 ).

Is solar PV a social issue in Bahrain?

Although there are fewer peer-reviewed studies on the social aspects of solar PV compared to technical studies, the present research sheds light on public perspectives on this topic in Bahrain. In fact, it used a cross-sectional design for this purpose.

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 ).