Oman's Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is set to start building solar parking lots within its premises starting from next month in co-ordination with Jacobs International Engineering Consultancy (JIEC), said a report.

An Oman-based international consultant, JIEC provides key services including engineering design, procurement, project and construction management across the sultanate in the fields of oil and gas, buildings, infrastructure and utilities, marine and environmental sustainability.

The installation of photovoltaic cells at SQU’s car-park will be done in two phases, according to Oman Observer.

In Phase One, the parking lot at College of Engineering will be covered with a RO108,000 ($279,576) funding from Jacobs International Engineering Consultancy, it stated.

A total of 324 units of PV modules will be installed for the 82 kW project which is expected to reduce carbon emission by 82.6 tons per year.

Once the project gets completed, the SQU will be able to produce electricity that will offset part of the university's peak demand in addition to the avoided cost of using the conventional shading structures, said the report.

The main contractor for the project is Nafath Renewable Energy, it added.