KUWAIT’S POSSIBLE SOLAR

Kuwait’s solar journey comes to light

Jenny Muirhead/Heba Hashem, May 10, 2013 (CSP Today)

“…Despite being the third-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Kuwait’s long-standing dependency on fossil fuels is expected to backfire by as early as 2017…[A]bout four years from now, oil revenues will no longer outweigh Kuwait’s spending…Kuwait is actively planning to harness renewable energy…The country aims to produce about 1% of its electricity from renewables by 2015; 10% by 2020 and 15% by 2030. Projects now are underway to use CSP in a variety of applications, including a hybrid power plant, enhanced oil recovery, and as part of a renewable energy complex…

“Kuwait’s most advanced solar power project has been under a feasibility study by Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corporation since 2007. Consisting of a 60 MW trough solar collector, Al Abdaliya Solar Plant will be part of a 280 MW Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) system – integrating a parabolic trough collector with a gas turbine – and will be located in Al Abdaliya Desert, west of Kuwait…Kuwait’s second planned CSP project will also employ parabolic trough technology, as part of a 50 MW plant within the 70 MW Shagaya Renewable Energy Complex. The demonstration plant will use dry cooling and large capacity molten salt thermal energy storage…The tender for the project’s EPC contract, however, has been delayed since September 2012…”

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“…Chevron, which has operated four oilfields in the onshore Partitioned Zone (PZ) that lies between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait since 1949…is now exploring ways of using solar energy for enhanced oil recovery…A pilot solar plant may start at the end of 2013…in attempt produce the steam needed to pump heavy crude from Chevron’s Saudi Arabia oilfield, and a final investment decision is expected to be made this year…Chevron’s project would use solar power in conjunction with burning natural gas for the steam flood development…

“…Kuwait has the highest direct normal solar irradiance in the GCC region, with solar radiation levels peaking at above 8,000 kilowatt hours a square metre…Although no plans have been announced yet for solar subsidies or minimum local content requirements…[there is a draft] renewable energy strategic plan through 2030…CSP could clearly play a dynamic role in Kuwait’s future energy mix, where it can be used in food production, desalination systems, enhanced oil recovery, water heating, autonomous or stand-alone power generators in remote areas, as well as in security applications…[I]f the new shale oil and gas explorations do not distract it from its renewable energy objectives, Kuwait could easily become a regional leader…”

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