• The self-supply solar plant supplies up to 50% of the desalination facility’s electricity needs, reinforcing Barka 5’s status as a national reference for efficiency

Sultanate of Oman, April 27th, 2026. GS Inima, a global leader in the water sector, has reached a strategic milestone with the start of permanent operations at the Barka 5 IWP Self-Supply Photovoltaic Plant. Developed by GS Inima and built in collaboration with Nafath Renewable Energy LLC as the EPC contractor (confirming GS Inima´s commitment with the In-Country Value requirements of Oman) and with the support of OCA Global as Owners Engineering, this green energy facility represents a major leap forward in operational efficiency and carbon footprint reduction for the water infrastructure managed by the company in Oman.

The facility features an installed power capacity of of 6.5 MWp and is specifically designed to optimize the energy usage of the adjacent Barka 5 desalination facility, by supplying up to 50% of the electricity consumption required for water production at full capacity during daily hours, the plant ensures a more competitive water production cost while significantly reducing reliance on external energy sources.

“The Barka 5 PV plant is only the third of its kind in Oman to power a large-scale desalination facility through a self-supply model. This achievement not only underscores GS Inima’s commitment to the global energy transition but also highlights our ability to integrate innovative, sustainable solutions that optimize the water-energy nexus for the benefit of the community and the environment” Juan Jose Benayas, CEO at GS Inima Barka 5.

Advanced Solar Engineering and Efficiency

The technical design of the plant is optimized to thrive in the demanding Omani environment. The installation features 10,504 Jinko Solar bifacial modules (620 Wp) mounted on a fixed structure system provided by Mibet Energy. This bifacial technology captures sunlight from both sides of the panels, maximizing energy yield in the desert landscape.

“Integrating photovoltaic assets into our water infrastructure is a strategic business priority for GS Inima. By developing this PV plant, we are not just optimizing our operational costs and energy security; we are demonstrating the commercial viability of large-scale renewable hybridization. This project is a key asset in our energy portfolio, ensuring long-term competitiveness in a market that increasingly demands efficiency and technological leadership” Jacobo Stuyck, Renewable Energy Director at GS Inima.

Power is managed through 18 Sungrow inverters (320 kWac), resulting in a high-Performance Ratio (PR) of 83.56% and an annual output of 12,454 MWh. fed through an 11kV connection directly to the site.

Furthermore, the integration of this renewable source enhances the existing efficiency of the Barka 5 IWP, which already stands as an industry benchmark with a remarkably low energy consumption of 2.7 kWh/m³, one of the most competitive rates in the region for high-capacity reverse osmosis.

The entry into service of this PV plant is the latest in a series of achievements that have made the Barka 5 IWP a national reference in Oman. The desalination project itself set a high bar for the industry when it achieved its Commercial Operation Date (COD) ahead of the original contractual schedule, even while facing the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From the very beginning, Barka 5 has been about breaking records and exceeding expectations. Achieving COD ahead of schedule was our first major victory; today, by making permanent self-supply PV plant a reality, we solidify Barka 5 as a pioneer of sustainable desalination in the Sultanate and our commitment with Oman” Juan Jose Benayas, CEO at GS Inima Barka 5.