RCSI Bahrain hosted a ceremony at its Busaiteen campus to celebrate the milestone of the launch of its Solar Farm project; making it one of the first universities in Bahrain to utilise solar power.

The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa - Secretary General of the Higher Education Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Higher Education Council Board of Trustees; His Excellency Brigadier Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Jeeran, Muharraq Deputy Governor and Deputy Head of the Coordinating Committee for Healthy Cities; Ms Nada Al-Murbati, Coordinator of Healthy Cities programme at the Muharraq Governorate; Dr Tasnim Atatrah, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and Head of Bahrain Office; Ms Nadia Al Aali, WHO Bahrain Office Specialist Communications Officer; Mr Mohammed Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman of Almoayyed International Group and Mr S.D. Raju, General Manager of Almoayyed International Group.

Senior representatives of RCSI in Dublin, Professor Laura Viani, President of RCSI, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer/Registrar and Professor Hannah McGee, RCSI Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, also attended the launch ceremony along with executive members of RCSI Bahrain.

Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa - Secretary General of the Higher Education Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Higher Education Council Board of Trustees, commented, “I am delighted to witness RCSI Bahrain’s launch of its solar farm project and contributing to increasing renewable energy target and achieving the Bahrain 2030 vision. With this remarkable step, RCSI Bahrain is paving the way for other higher education institutions to adopt environmentally conscious practices and contribute to Bahrain’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, Chief Operating Officer, RCSI Bahrain, commented: “RCSI Bahrain has committed to environmental sustainability in the knowledge that a healthier environment contributes to better health. Therefore, by commissioning our Solar Farm project, we have chosen to play our role in supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of “Affordable and Clean Energy” and contributing to Bahrain 2030 vision and the national renewable energy target. The Solar Farm will produce the equivalent of 55% of RCSI Bahrain’s current energy consumption and mark the start of our “Green Campus Initiative” to enhance campus sustainability. I would like to thank Mr Mohammed Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman of Almoayyed International Group, and his team for supporting us with making this project come to life in the coming months.”

Mr Mohammed Farouk Almoayyed, Chairman of Almoayyed International Group, commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with RCSI for this project. As a leading solar panel provider, Almoayyed Solar seeks to encourage environmental conservation as an essential component towards the gradual shift to a more environmentally-conscious society that will benefit the country and the people of Bahrain.”

With its estimated completion by January 2023, the solar farm will cover 12,000 sqm with 4,854 solar panels installed and expected yearly energy production of 3.54 MWh and contribute to an annual saving of 2,247 metric tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. In addition, the solar panels will be placed on structures over the current car parks, providing 880 shaded parking slots.

Deputy Governor and Deputy Head of the Coordinating Committee for Healthy Cities, His Excellency Brigadier Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Jeeran, commented, “We congratulate RCSI Bahrain for the launch of their Solar Farm Project. This project consolidates the relationship between the University and the Muharraq Governorate and contributes to the Healthy Cities Programme being implemented by the Muharraq Governorate by encouraging the local community to participate in addressing health and environmental problems to achieve sustainable development goals at all social, health and economic levels.”

Earlier this year, RCSI Bahrain signed a Partnership Agreement with His Excellency Salman bin Isa Hindi Al-Mannai, Governor of Muharraq, marking a community partnership and commitment to sustainable development goals.

Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative, WHO Bahrain Country Office, commented, "We take this opportunity to congratulate the students, staff and our colleagues at RCSI for their commitment and contribution towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Affordable and Clean Energy, benefitting the generation of today, tomorrow, and the future of health and wellbeing towards Health For All, By All".

Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer/Registrar, commented “In support of the “Green Campus Initiative”, RCSI Bahrain has been keen on promoting environmentally conscious practices at its campus and has undertaken several initiatives, including reducing power consumption, paperless office, reducing single-use plastics and tree planting. In 2021, RCSI Bahrain planted 39 new trees on its campus and purchased 200 trees thus far as part of the STC Trees for Life Project.”