Energy conservation through smart design

Saudi Arabia

Nazir Muhammad, founder and CEO of Green Watt Company for Energy, talks to The Energy Year about developing indoor lighting solutions for large commercial spaces and integrating solar panels into diesel generation systems in remote locations to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Green Watt Company for Energy is a renewable energy company specialising in energy management and conservation.

How is Green Watt Company for Energy positioning itself in Saudi Arabia’s energy value chain?
We have been an energy services company for the oil and gas sector since 2005, but with the launch of Vision 2030, we saw an opportunity to align with the country’s environmental targets and founded Green Watt. Saudi Aramco was a major client with its own net-zero goals, and that was a further motivation.
We began to explore how to leverage our experience in oil and gas to address environmental concerns. We identified areas within the sector where carbon footprints could be reduced or eliminated, and we developed technologies for that.

What specific technologies have you developed to reduce carbon footprints?
One of our key products is developed locally and is called Solar Tower Light. Adequate lighting is critical for oil and gas operations because they operate 24/7, and traditionally, it has been provided by diesel tower lights. Diesel units are costly; each one consumes about SAR 1,000 [USD 270] per month, and diesel must be transported to the site, which generates emissions and adds to maintenance costs. Our solar-powered alternatives use sunlight to charge their batteries during the day and provide efficient, emission-free lighting at night. They are also noise-free and require minimal maintenance.
Building on this, we looked at ways to integrate solar power into oil and gas sites. We developed mobile solar generators that can form a hybrid system with diesel generators, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions and improving overall efficiency. We have captured a large share of this space and seen impressive results.
Another area of focus is energy conservation. Site surveys show that air conditioning is the largest energy consumer in the country. Air conditioning is essential, and we cannot eliminate it, but we can certainly make it more efficient, and we advise our clients on the best systems. Our philosophy is to first reduce, then produce.

What are some other examples of technologies you have developed locally?
Tubular Skylight is another product we manufacture locally. It is similar to the sunpipe technology that is popular in Europe and the US. The system channels sunlight indoors into warehouses, workshops and factories, providing sustainable lighting.
The technology has been well-received. Aramco has installed thousands of units in its facilities and even featured the technology in its magazine The Arabian Sun, highlighting how it has helped reduce energy consumption.
In large facilities such as IKEA stores, warehouses or grocery stores, conventional lighting systems are often running continuously. Tubular Skylight brings in natural light while blocking out heat from the sun, which allows turning off the lights for up to 12 hours a day. This significantly cuts energy costs and decreases the load on solar generation systems on the premises, since natural light provides much of the required illumination.

Who are your main customers in the oil and gas sector, and what are the products and services they demand the most?
Our top oil and gas client is SLB. We have worked with them on solar power installations at their remote sites and have powered their Center for Reliability and Efficiency in Dammam with solar energy. We are also working with them on battery energy storage solutions, which are a hot item in the industry right now, and we have opened an office in Oman to support SLB’s projects there. Halliburton is another major customer of ours, particularly for solar tower lights.

Why would an oilfield services provider choose Green Watt over competitors?
There are two main reasons why companies choose us. The first is our strong roots in the oil and gas sector. We understand the industry’s requirements. The second reason is our technical know-how, which allows us to offer tailored solutions. We also make HSE one of our top priorities. Companies are willing to invest more in contractors who don’t compromise on safety, and that’s a strength we bring to the table.
Finally, we deliver cost-effective solutions. We partner with technology providers that help us offer value for money. Our goal is to provide the best price without compromising quality.

Are you working on any Saudi giga-projects?
We have installed more than 9,000 solar street lamps in NEOM, and we are working on solar-powered, off-grid camps for Al-Ula and Amaala airports. Additionally, we have been approved to supply to The Red Sea development, and we are involved in the EPC phase of the Qiddiya tourism mega-project.

What are your goals for the next five years?
One of our objectives for the next five years is to create jobs and support the local economy. We also want to improve our manufacturing capabilities to reduce lead times and localise the manufacturing or assembly of some products that we currently import. As our domestic capabilities improve, we will look to expand abroad. We already have an office in Oman, and we will soon have one in the US.

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