Qatar is accelerating its renewable energy transition as solar power becomes an increasingly important part of its electricity mix. According to GlobalData, renewable energy is expected to account for 25.9% of Qatar’s total installed power capacity by 2035, up from 12% in 2025. This shift reflects the country’s efforts to diversify electricity generation, reduce domestic natural gas consumption, and lower carbon emissions.
For the solar industry, these developments signal growing opportunities in utility-scale solar projects and the supporting infrastructure needed to bring them online.
1. Qatar Renewable Energy Share Set to Reach 25.9% by 2035
Qatar’s electricity sector is expected to expand steadily over the next decade. GlobalData forecasts that the country’s total installed power capacity will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% between 2025 and 2035, while solar capacity is projected to increase at a much faster CAGR of 12.4%.
This growth reflects a broader shift toward a more diversified energy mix. Although natural gas will remain central to electricity generation, renewable energy is gaining importance as Qatar works to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
The country’s renewable energy strategy also supports its long-term sustainability ambitions, creating a clearer direction for investment in solar power generation.
2. Qatar Solar PV Projects Expand Utility-Scale Capacity
Large-scale solar projects are at the center of Qatar’s renewable energy development.
The 800 MW Al Kharsaah solar power plant began supplying electricity to the grid in 2022. In April 2025, QatarEnergy inaugurated two additional facilities: the 458 MW Ras Laffan solar plant and the 417 MW Mesaieed solar plant. Together, these projects increased Qatar’s installed solar capacity to approximately 1.675 GW.
Another major development is the 2 GW Dukhan solar project. QatarEnergy selected Samsung C&T as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor in September 2025. Its first 1 GW phase is scheduled to connect to the grid by the end of 2028, with full capacity expected by mid-2029.
These projects demonstrate Qatar’s commitment to expanding utility-scale solar generation and strengthening its domestic energy supply.
3. Qatar’s Renewable Energy Strategy Supports Growth Through 2030
Qatar’s renewable energy expansion is backed by national energy policies and long-term development targets.
Launched by Kahramaa in April 2024, the Qatar National Renewable Energy Strategy aims to develop approximately 4 GW of utility-scale renewable energy capacity and around 200 MW of distributed renewable generation by 2030. The strategy targets an increase in renewables’ share of the country’s power mix from 5% to 18%.
Qatar has also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 compared with a business-as-usual scenario under its updated nationally determined contribution.
Together, these targets provide a policy framework for continued solar deployment, encouraging project development and investment across the country’s renewable energy sector.
4. Natural Gas Remains Essential to Qatar’s Electricity Supply
Despite the rapid growth of solar power, Qatar is not expected to abandon natural gas in the foreseeable future.
GlobalData projects that natural gas will account for approximately 74% of Qatar’s installed power capacity in 2035. Gas-fired power plants remain essential for meeting electricity demand during the hot summer months, when air-conditioning loads rise sharply. Combined heat and power facilities also support seawater desalination, a critical part of the country’s water supply system.
As solar generation expands, flexible gas-fired generation will help balance fluctuations in solar output and maintain a reliable electricity supply.This means Qatar’s energy transition is likely to follow a hybrid model in which renewable energy and conventional generation operate together.
5. Grid Modernization and Battery Storage Support Solar Integration
The expansion of solar PV capacity also creates a need for improved grid management and energy storage.
Solar generation varies throughout the day, while electricity demand and desalination requirements must be met consistently. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can help manage these differences by storing surplus electricity and releasing it when needed.
Qatar has already installed a 1 MW/4 MWh Tesla Powerpack pilot at the Nuaijia substation in 2020. Kahramaa has also initiated consultancy procurement for a larger utility-scale battery storage project, although its planned capacity has not been publicly disclosed in the source report.
As renewable capacity grows, investments in storage, transmission infrastructure, and grid flexibility could become increasingly important to maintaining system reliability.
6. Qatar’s Solar Expansion Creates Opportunities for the PV Supply Chain
Qatar’s growing pipeline of utility-scale solar projects creates opportunities beyond solar module manufacturing and electricity generation.
Large solar installations require a broad range of supporting equipment, including mounting structures, foundations, electrical components, and installation services. For solar mounting system manufacturers and suppliers, project expansion may create demand for ground-mounted structures engineered to meet site-specific wind loads, soil conditions, corrosion requirements, and project specifications.
However, opportunities will depend on project procurement schedules, EPC contractor requirements, technical qualifications, and competition among suppliers. Companies seeking to enter the Qatari market should therefore monitor upcoming projects and establish relationships with developers, EPC contractors, and local distributors.
For suppliers, understanding project design requirements and providing reliable technical support can be just as important as offering competitive pricing.
Qatar’s Renewable Energy Transition Points to Long-Term Solar Growth
Qatar’s renewable energy share is projected to more than double between 2025 and 2035, with solar PV serving as a major driver of this expansion. Projects such as Al Kharsaah, Ras Laffan, Mesaieed, and Dukhan demonstrate the scale of the country’s ambitions.
Natural gas will remain a major part of the electricity system, but renewable energy, battery storage, and grid modernization are expected to play increasingly important roles in the country’s future energy mix.
For companies operating in the solar industry, Qatar is a market worth watching as its renewable energy strategy progresses from policy targets to large-scale project deployment.
Related reading: Qatar’s solar capacity expansion and major solar projects.
