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Bahrain has made notable progress in renewable energy, with 172 solar projects in operation nationwide, delivering more than 141 MW of capacity, and 14 additional projects currently underway, a top official has said.
Distributed rooftop systems generate more than 200 gigawatt-hours annually, Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Yasser Humaidan added.
Connections are regulated under Resolution 600/2017 with a net metering system using smart meters that calculate electricity exported back to the grid.
Mr Humaidan, who is politically responsible for the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), revealed the details while responding to questions by MPs on costs, subsidies, tariffs, renewable energy and governance.
“There has been a clear rise in residential demand to instal rooftop solar systems,” he noted.
In a separate reply, Mr Humaidan detailed a governance case that prompted a comprehensive internal audit at EWA.
An expatriate engineer was found to have submitted a suspected forged academic certificate during his employment process years earlier.
At the time of hiring and contract renewals, the focus had been on practical experience and performance, with no indication that the documents were invalid.
“Once suspicion arose, the EWA immediately initiated a full review of the academic and professional qualifications of all expatriate engineers,” the minister said.
The case was formally referred by EWA to the Public Prosecution and the Interior Ministry in October 2023. A court ruling was issued against the employee on August 26, 2025.
Mr Humaidan emphasised that no financial or administrative harm resulted, owing to effective internal oversight and performance monitoring. He said the incident prompted tighter verification measures, enhanced governance, and stricter adherence to engineering profession licensing requirements.
“This case strengthened our internal controls and ensured that no similar incidents exist within the EWA,” he said.
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