LOC18:33
15:33 GMT
By Moussa Ahmad
KUWAIT, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Under the aegis of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the first phase of Shagaya renewable energy park project was launched by Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water Dr. Khaled Al-Fadhel on Wednesday.
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.
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 USD 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.
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 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. (end)
mad.mt