Siemens and Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals are partnering with four Omani universities to train the next generation of engineers in power grid planning and protection, supporting the Sultanate's renewable energy ambitions and national grid modernisation plans.

The initiative was announced at IEEE PowerTalks 2026 in Muscat, where Siemens granted software licences to Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Nizwa, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and Sohar University.

The licences cover Gridscale X PSS E, PSS SINCAL and Gridscale X Advanced Protection Assessment, industry-standard tools used to plan, simulate and protect electricity networks. The software will be available to students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across the four universities during the 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic years.

The programme is expected to provide practical training to approximately 500 students per semester, enabling them to develop skills in grid design, network simulation and responses to power system faults.

The Ministry selected the universities as part of its broader energy transition strategy, which prioritises grid modernisation and the development of national expertise in electricity system planning and operations.

The initiative builds on Siemens' multi-year collaboration with the Ministry, including support for Oman's national energy model and Energy Transition Strategy, as well as training for government specialists in energy system modelling and planning.

Jamie Hoyzer, Managing Director of Siemens in Oman, said, "Across the Middle East, the grid is where energy ambitions are either enabled or delayed. It is one of the biggest opportunities for countries that plan ahead, such as Oman. Planning a grid for a high share of renewables requires the right tools and the people who know how to use them. We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and the universities to prepare the next generation of engineers who will shape Oman's grid from on the same software used to plan and protect real networks."

Renewable energy targets drive grid investment

Oman is accelerating renewable energy deployment as it works towards a more integrated national electricity grid. The share of renewable energy connected to the national grid increased from 4.26% in 2024 to 9.46% in 2025.

The Sultanate aims to raise renewable energy's share to 30–40% by 2030, 60–70% by 2040 and 90–100% by 2050. Achieving these targets will require grid infrastructure capable of integrating increasing volumes of solar and wind power while maintaining reliability and protecting networks against faults.

Eng. Maryam Al Hashmi, Director of Electricity and Energy Efficiency Policies and Strategies at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said, "The national grid is where Oman's renewable energy ambitions become reality. As we connect more solar and wind and extend the grid across the Sultanate, we need Omani engineers who can plan and operate it with confidence. Bringing advanced grid-planning tools into our universities is an investment in that national capability, in line with Oman Vision 2040."

Dr. Hamdan bin Sulaiman Al Fazari, Vice Chancellor of Sohar University, said, "Our students learn best when they work on the same challenges, and with the same tools, as the industry they will join. Access to Siemens grid-planning and protection software allows us to integrate theoretical and practical learning about power network management into our teaching and research. Thereby enabling our graduates to be ready to contribute to Oman's energy transition from day one."

Digitalisation and skills key to energy transition

The initiative comes as grid capacity and digitalisation emerge as major priorities for the Middle East's energy transition.

According to Siemens' 2026 Middle East Infrastructure Transition Monitor (ITM), which surveyed 400 senior executives across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Oman, grid limitations were identified as the factor most likely to slow the shift towards clean energy. Some 62% of respondents said inadequate grid infrastructure was holding back electrification.

Meanwhile, 64% identified smart grids and grid software as crucial enablers of the energy transition, with digitalisation ranked as the factor most likely to accelerate the shift. The report also highlighted the grid's role in supporting industrial growth, energy security and decarbonisation.

Training and workforce development ranked among organisations' top five priorities for the next three years, according to the report.

The software provided under the initiative serves distinct functions in power network management. PSS E supports transmission planning and analysis, while PSS SINCAL enables engineering-grade grid simulation and analysis. Gridscale X Advanced Protection Assessment allows engineers to simulate protection systems and assess how electricity networks respond to faults.

Through the collaboration, Siemens, the Ministry and the participating universities aim to strengthen local engineering capabilities and prepare graduates to support Oman's evolving electricity infrastructure as renewable energy deployment expands. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service