Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced plans to build the largest electric charging station for buses in the region, which will run on solar energy and monitor and control the operation of all the sites involved. 

 

High-efficiency solar cell shades will be established, becoming the first bus station in the region working purely on solar energy source, one important aspects of renewable energy, said the statement from Ashghal.  

 

These sheds containing 10,720 solar panels will generate 4 megawatts (MW) per day, as they will work alongside traditional sources (power station) to feed the energy needed to operate the project with highest standards and latest specifications, it stated.

 

The station will also have 217 double gun electric charging device for buses with a capacity of 150 kilowatts (KW), in addition to five electric fast chargers for buses with a capacity of 300 kilowatts, covering 474 bus stops, it added.

 

Engineer Abdulhakim Al Hashimi, Head of Public Projects at Building Projects Department, said: "We will provide necessary infrastructure for charging electric buses and install various types of chargers including double gun chargers, single chargers to charge buses from any side, and pantographs (fixed and moveable) for charging from topside."

 

Ashghal will also construct special chambers for feeder transformers with provision of electrical installations with a length of about 100 km, he added. 

 

Upon completion, the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme aims at integration with various public transport systems especially for supporting transport operations for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and beyond. 

 

Earlier, the Qatari public works authority had signed 14 new contracts worth QR2.4 billion for construction of bus stations and bus depots. It involves construction of eight main bus stations in different areas of the country.

 

Within this contract, huge bus depots will be set up in Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra, each with an area of 129,000 sq m to 190,000 sq m.

 

Ashghal will also set up 2,700 bus stops on all major roads, with air-conditioned cabins to wait inside to prevent sunlight and humidity. This will be great comfort for thousands of bus users in many areas, it added.-TradeArabia News Service