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KISR: Shagaya project first step toward energy diversification

KUWAIT, March 15 (KUNA) -- A senior scientific official has emphasized the momentousness of the Shagaya project as a first step to diversify sources of power to supply a considerable part of local demand.
Shagaya is being carried out in line with a strategic plan under the umbrella of a program of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)'s Energy and Building Research Center (EBRC), KISR Director General Dr. Samira Al-Sayed Omar said during a field visit to the project Thursday.
She was accompanied by officials representing some of the agencies involved in the project.
The chief aim of the project is energy diversification through use of renewable energy technologies, and the latest acknowledged systems of ideal operation and maintenance worldwide, the KISR chief noted.
Other goals include developing storage of advanced energy, and designing and implementing strategies and techniques of smart power management.
Shagaya includes designing and operating the first multi-technique plant for producing electricity from renewable sources, 70 megawatt capacity, linking it directly to the national grid to meet part of the local demand on energy.
According to Al-Sayed Omar, the rate of achievement at the project has hit 65 percent, hopefully to be entirely completed in September.
Environment Public Authority (EPA) Director General Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah described the Shagaya project as a "pioneer." It is part of the state orientation toward achieving His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's vision, namely providing 15 percent of Kuwait's needs of power from renewable sources, wind and solar power, by 2030.
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) has been supporting the project since inception upon directives from KFAS Chairman His Highness the Amir, KFAS Director-General Adnan Shihab-Eldin said.
Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi said that Shagaya is one of the strategic projects of a sustainable living environment and program of employing renewable energy.
He added that total costs of the project hit KD 176.6 million (USD 592.418 million). (end) zak.yms.msa