Shagaya solar power project’s 1st phase launched
KUWAIT: Under the aegis of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the first phase of Al-Shagaya renewable energy park project was launched by Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Dr Khaled Al-Fadhel yesterday. The launching coincides with Kuwait’s ongoing celebrations marking National Day and Independence Day as well as the 13th anniversary of His Highness the Amir’s assumption of power. Al-Shagaya solar energy plant is a joint project developed by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and the Ministry of Electricity and Water. It is a major development project purposed to fulfill His Highness the Amir’s vision aiming at securing 15 percent of local power needs out of renewable energy sources in Kuwait by 2030, thus saving $2.5 billion annually on a USD-45-per-barrel basis.
The project was initiated in 2011 and then put up for execution in 2013 for generating renewable energy based on solar and wind energy. Kuwait began to be interested in renewable energy in the eighties before it was included as a project in the country’s development drive in 2010 at the behest of His Highness the Amir. Al-Shagaya Park is designed into four phases, and Phase One includes a solar energy plant. Once complete, it would provide 150,000 houses with power all over the year, save 12 million barrels of oil per annum and create 10,000 jobs during execution as well as 1,200 during operation and maintenance.
The project would also slim carbon dioxide emissions involving 196,000 tons annually in the first phase and five million tons once the final phase is over. The phase one of Al-Shagaya Park includes the generation of 70MW, involving 50MW solar energy, 10MW Solar PV and 10 MW wind. The second phase is meant to produce 1,500MW Solar PV, while the third phase aims at generating 1,500MW of mixed technology energy. The fourth one is intended to generate 1,000MW.
Harnessing renewable energy
Minister Fadhel has affirmed that Kuwait is relentlessly taking strides for harnessing renewable energy. Kuwait is seeking to ensure that renewable energy covers 15 percent of the used energy by 2030, the minister said, singling out Al-Shagaya Renewable Energy Project. The minister was speaking during a ceremony, organized by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), inaugurating the first phase of AlShagaya project, under patronization of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Amir, at the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference, hosted by Doha, Qatar, affirmed Kuwait’s interest in the renewable energy. His statement constituted guidelines for all state sectors to move forward in harnessing this emerging energy. In line with His Highness the Amir vision at this level, the Cabinet had formed a higher commission, headed by the Minister of Electricity and Water, with membership of Kuwait University, KISR, Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Ministry of Public Works, along with other departments, to compel contractors, in future ventures, to equip installations for securing at least 10 percent of needed energy from renewable resources.
There are other projects for securing renewable energy; namely Al-Dabdaba solar energy venture. Moreover, the state, he continued, specialized 630,000 square meters of land for establishing solar energy facilities. These ventures are also in harmony with Kuwait’s adherence to the UN policy of tackling climatic change according to the UN Convention on Climatic Change and the Kyoto protocol, said Minister Fadhel.
KD 1 million
Samira Al-Sayed Omar, KISR’s Director General, said His Highness the Amir, in 2010, instructed KFAS to grant KISR KD 1 million ($3.3 million) to cover costs of feasibility studies to generate energy from renewable sources - thus these studies constituted the basis of this complex. KISR has based its projects in this sector on His Highness the Amir instructions that the renewable energy should cover 15 percent of the country’s needs for power by 2035.
Omar announced that the complex would be operated, today, at a capacity of 70 megawatts-linked up with the conventional power network. The generated power comes from solar, wind, thermal and electro optic resources. This complex is capable of securing power for 1,000 residential units throughout the year. It is highly feasible for it enables Kuwait to save more than 285,000 barrels of oil per year. Moreover, Omar continues, it provides work opportunities, minimizes emissions of carbon dioxide at a proportion of five million tons per year.
Meanwhile, Badr Al-Rifaee, the assistant general secretary at the higher planning council, affirmed that the key project contributed to the strategic approach of minimizing dependence on oil for state income. Mohammd Boushehri, the electricity undersecretary, said the project is the largest at the Gulf level, indicating at a plan to establish a station of a 1,500Mega solar energy. — KUNA