AUK, KISR host symposium on renewable energy
KUWAIT: The American University of Kuwait (AUK) in collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) organized a ‘Renewable Energy Symposium and Exhibition’ yesterday. The event featured five renewable energy experts from scientific institutes and the oil sector. AUK President Nizar Hamza said the world has been gradually shifting to renewable energies. “Scientists believe that the transition has been sooner rather than later. However, making this shift needs profound collaboration by everyone including governments, educational institutes and industries,” he said.
In his presentation, entitled ‘Role of Renewable Energy in Economic Sustainability and Industrial Development in Kuwait’, KISR Executive Director Energy and Building Research Center Dr Salem Al-Hajraf noted that renewable energy is the future and that Kuwait adopted it a few years back. “Without energy, we cannot survive. We have it in Kuwait in abundance, but we need to sustain it that for our next generations. We are living in one world and we need to protect it and whatever natural resources we have,” he said.
Hajraf said that people need enough resources in order to survive. “Population growth requires more water, more power and more raw materials, so we need more energy. Energy demand tells as that by 2035 and beyond, fossil fuels will be scarce, so natural gas demand will increase further. Oil exporting countries like us must not be worried because our number one product will be affected. We have abundant natural resources like solar energy. If we invest now, we can supply the needs of the world,” he added.
Very high
Hajraf said electricity consumption in Kuwait is very high compared to other countries. “In Kuwait, we have already started exploring the journey to renewable energy by setting a target of 15 percent electricity generated from renewable energy and optimizing consumption to the lowest possible level by 2030. We have renewable projects ongoing now. Kuwait can generate high yields on these projects and we can create a new market,” he said.
Hajraf has more than 23 years of experience in various scientific research fields including renewable energy and clean energy technologies, feasibility and environment studies. The symposium yesterday also saw presentations from Dr Osamah Al-Sayegh (Kuwait Energy Strategy 2035), Dr Ayman Al-Qattan (Renewable Energy Technology Deployment Challenges) Dr Suad Radwan (Solar Energy in the Oil Sector) and Dr Mark Speece (Energy Transition and Role of Entrepreneurial Business Program) . The auditorium was also used for the display of renewable energy samples, solar panels and other research paraphernalia.