Steps towards a diversified energy mix

Kuwait

Jorge Pérez, Kuwait’s country manager of TSK, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s role in digitalising and decarbonising Kuwait’s energy industry and the maturity of the country’s renewable energy market. TSK provides technological solutions for, among other industries, the energy sector, including for energy storage plants, renewable energy generation plants and environmental facilities.

What is the scope of TSK’s activities in Kuwait, and what have your main achievements been so far?
TSK is a global company with more than 35 years of experience, specialised in the development of technological solutions for industry and the energy sector. This includes electrical infrastructures, industrial plants, energy storage plants, conventional and renewable energy generation plants, water treatment plants and environmental facilities or storage and handling facilities for raw materials, as well as providing proprietary technology, engineering and management capacity for complex projects and operations and maintenance, digitalisation and cyber security services.
TSK has executed more than 1,000 projects in more than 50 countries, participating in more than 25,000 MW-worth of different technologies such as open cycle, combined cycle, cogeneration, geothermal, wind farms, solar thermal and photovoltaic plants, hydraulic plants and biomass plants.
Kuwait has always been a focal market for us where we find a lot of potential and investment opportunities. Currently, we are working at two solar energy power plants in Kuwait because the geographical location has proven to be perfect for these kinds of projects.
TSK is committed to support the country’s vision in the diversification of the economy and the development of non-oil sectors. Kuwait is actively pursuing the deployment of renewable energy sources to decrease its domestic reliance on fossil fuels, and TSK is able to play a large role in this goal.

What are TSK’s main contributions to digitalising and decarbonising Kuwait’s energy industry?
We have made significant contributions towards digitalising and decarbonising Kuwait’s energy industry through our two ongoing projects.
Firstly, we have integrated advanced digital technologies into our projects, which has resulted in increased efficiency and reduced costs. These technologies have allowed us to collect real-time data on energy production and consumption, which we can analyse to optimise our operations and reduce our carbon footprint.
Secondly, our renewable energy projects have helped reduce Kuwait’s dependence on fossil fuels, which has had a positive impact on the environment. By utilising clean energy sources such as solar, we have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in the region.
Overall, our company is committed to driving the transition towards a more sustainable energy future in Kuwait, and we will continue to innovate and invest in renewable energy technologies to achieve this goal.

What are the main challenges in developing the Kuwaiti power market?
In my opinion, there have been improvements in the electricity power plants market in Kuwait in the last few years, but the country still has a strong dependence on fossil fuels, particularly
oil and gas, for electricity generation. This has led to a lack of diversification in the energy mix and limited investment in renewable energy sources if we compare this to other neighbour countries.
Also, it is important to remark that the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation has significant environmental impacts, including air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing these concerns will require a shift towards cleaner energy sources such as renewables, or at least cleaner options, such as natural gas combined cycles power plants.

How mature is Kuwait’s renewable energy market compared to other GCC countries?
While several other countries in the region such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in developing their renewable energy sectors, Kuwait has been slower to adopt renewable energy technologies.
One of the main reasons for this is Kuwait’s heavy dependence on oil and gas for electricity generation, which has limited the country’s investment in renewable energy sources. However, in recent years, the Kuwaiti government has shown a growing interest in diversifying its energy mix and promoting the development of renewable energy.
In 2017, Kuwait committed to the goal of generating 15% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. The programme includes plans for the development of solar and wind power projects, as well as the installation of energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
While these initiatives are a step in the right direction, the Kuwaiti renewable energy market still lags behind other GCC countries in terms of investment and development. However, with the government’s commitment to renewable energy and increasing interest from investors, there is significant potential for growth in the coming years.

What role does TSK intend to play in supporting Kuwait to achieve Vision 2035?
We are committed to support the country in achieving its Vision 2035 goals. Our company intends to play a significant role in renewable projects to help diversify Kuwait’s energy mix and reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Achieving the goals of Vision 2035 requires collaboration between the government, private sector companies and other stakeholders. Our company plans to work closely with these groups to support the development of the renewable energy industry in Kuwait.

Read our latest insights on:

• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE