Kuwait unveils ambitious plan for renewables, hydrogen production

• The 18-month contract, awarded by the Kuwait Oil Company to American firm KBR, will include developing market analysis and technical and commercial feasibility studies, in addition to training Kuwaiti citizens.

• Kuwait is taking steps to enhance its renewable energy generation capabilities. The country is currently prequalifying companies for its first utility-scale solar PV project.

The Kuwait Oil Company has taken a significant step towards advancing renewable energy by awarding a consultancy contract to develop a comprehensive national master plan. This plan aims to produce 17 gigawatts of renewable energy and 25 gigawatts of green hydrogen by 2050, thereby setting the course for renewable hydrogen development in the country, reported MEED magazine.

The magazine added that the company that won the aforementioned contract is the American firm KBR, which has a long history in the field of engineering, research, and activities in renewable energy.

Noting that the ratio of renewable energy to green hydrogen energy in electrolysis production is usually 2:1, the report highlighted that this program is the largest potential renewable energy and green hydrogen initiative ever announced in Kuwait. Kuwait suffered greatly from power outages last June due to high temperatures.

The 18-month contract will include developing market analysis and technical and commercial feasibility studies, in addition to training Kuwaiti citizens.

The magazine quoted a KBR official as saying that the renewable energy capacity will be linked to the production of green hydrogen for domestic industrial use, as well as for export purposes.

Kuwait is taking steps to enhance its renewable energy generation capabilities. For example, it is currently prequalifying companies for its first utility-scale solar PV project.

In March, the Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy confirmed a plan that would see Kuwait have 22.1 GW of renewable energy installed capacity by 2030 as part of its new 20-year strategy that ends in 2050.

Yet, Kuwait has only 70 MW of installed solar and wind capacity, with no new plants built since 2018.

Despite this apparent contradiction, having a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation lead the country’s renewable hydrogen program could provide much-needed impetus.

Indeed, Kuwait National Petroleum Company was the project manager for the 1.5 GW Al-Dibdibah solar project before it was transferred to the authority of the Public-Private Partnership Projects Authority.