Kuwait’s leading renewable energy enabler

Kuwait

Ameer Alhashemi, CEO of Shajara Sustainability Solutions (3S), talks to The Energy Year about the company’s unique model for engaging EPC contractors in solar projects and its new PV solar cell manufacturing facility in Oman. 3S is a clean technology company specialising in solar energy systems, battery storage and energy efficiency.

Your share of Kuwait’s solar installations market is around 80%. How did you achieve such a dominant position?
It is not just in Kuwait – we have a similar share in Qatar and Bahrain. We have built that position by forging strategic partnerships with top-tier suppliers. We are Huawei’s sole value-added partner in the northern Gulf region, and we distribute other premium brands, such as KACO, a subsidiary of Siemens, across the MENA region.
Our approach is to open regional offices where we see potential demand, build our supply chain and offer comprehensive A-to-Z design with robust financial backing and strong after-sales service.
Our model is unique: we offer consultancy, design the systems in-house and offer financing to EPC contractors and developers who often face delays in payments from project owners. We have deliberately avoided competing with our customers in installation and development. Instead, we empower them. That’s why 80% of all PV solar installations, including those for large infrastructure projects, in Kuwait are facilitated through us. Maintaining a neutral yet supportive stance toward all customers has been key to our success.

What types of clients and technologies are you targeting for future growth?
Every market demands different solutions. In Bahrain, for example, customers are more price-sensitive and gravitate toward brands such as SolaX Power PV inverters. All our products are top-tier, but we try to offer different levels of pricing while maintaining the quality that can sustain generation and efficiency in the regional conditions.
Huawei, our partner for supplying large-scale projects, has invested USD 55 billion in R&D. Their tech includes features such as smart shading to isolate burned or low-production panels, high-capacity inverters for gigawatt-scale projects and ultra-fast EV chargers. These types of innovations help us stay ahead and release the burden on our partners to keep up with the advancements in this field.

Are there domestic manufacturers that support your regional footprint?
Yes, we have recently opened a solar cell manufacturing facility in Sohar, Oman. It will strengthen our regional supply chain and support growth in international markets, as the cells will be exported to the US under bilateral trade agreements. Moreover, we have partnered with local manufacturers of PV cables and PV structures to benefit from Kuwait’s low operating costs and increasing regional demand, offering a flexible supply to our customers.

How is Kuwait’s renewables market evolving, and how do you plan to evolve with it?
Kuwait lags behind the region due to unclear legislation. However, recently that’s changing dramatically. Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and support from figures such as the Minister of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy, Sabeeh Al Mukhaizeem, and engineer Ahmad Al Dosari, the director of renewables at the ministry, renewables are gaining momentum.
There is now a mandate for government buildings to source 10% of their power from renewables by 2035, and we are contributing to reaching that goal. The country’s first private PPA – a 30-MW solar plant owned by a major local investor – was equipped and connected to the grid with our equipment and expertise.
Our revenue is improving as the market opens up in Kuwait and the GCC. The government currently spends around USD 650 million per year subsidising water and electricity. Most of that power comes from oil, an inefficient process where 70% of the barrel’s energy is lost. Instead, that barrel could be refined into products worth much more to the country. Also, the cost of that electricity is around USD 0.16 per kWh, and that fluctuates with oil prices.
Renewable energy can cost as little as USD 0.03 per kWh, a rate that can be fixed to avoid the fluctuations of other energy markets. The potential savings are huge, and the economic case for renewables is becoming stronger than ever.

What is your assessment of Kuwait’s green hydrogen segment?
We see green hydrogen primarily as a large-scale storage solution in the long term. PV solar can produce hydrogen via electrolysis, which can then be stored and deployed when needed. While we haven’t seen massive hydrogen developments in the region yet, we are exploring partnerships.

What message would you give to investors who are considering the Kuwaiti renewables market?
Kuwait offers stability, high returns and a growing renewables segment with an increasing number of mandates for clean energy integration. It is the right time to invest. We are here to help investors navigate the landscape, connect with domestic companies and provide the technological backbone needed for success.
We are well-positioned for expansion, both operationally and logistically. Our growth plan is to take our sustainability solutions across the GCC, leveraging the business infrastructure and credibility that we have built.

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