Economic feasibility of wind and photovoltaic energy in Kuwait

Waleed K Al-Nassar,S Neelamani,Teena Sara William,S Semerikov,V Osadchyi,S Sakhno,S Chukharev,S Klimov,T Vakaliuk,A Iatsyshyn,O Bondarenko,A Striuk,P Nechypurenko,H Danylchuk

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202128005016

Waleed K Al-Nassar, S Neelamani + Show 12 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202128005016

Copy DOI

Abstract

The worldwide environmental concern and awareness created a way towards the generation of pollution-free wind and solar renewable energies. Wind and Photovoltaic (PV) power plants of each 10 MW capacity located in the Shagaya area, west of Kuwait, were compared after one year of operation. The wind power plants recorded high capacity factors resulting in a yearly power production of 42.59 GWh, 21% higher than expected (contractual 31.160 GWh). It will reduce the emission of CO2 throughout the projected lifetime of 25 years by 118,303 tons. CAPEX (capital Expenditure) and OPEX (operation expenditure) were taken into consideration throughout the life of the plants along with investment costs resulting in a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for wind of 0.015 KWD/kWh or 0.046 USD/kWh, compared to 0.027 KWD/kWh or 0.082 USD/kWh for solar PV (44% lower than PV). Offshore, Boubyan Island, Northern Kuwait territorial waters, were found to be the foremost appropriate for wind energy generation, with Wind Power Density of more than 500 Watt/m2 in summer which is ideal for the high energy demanding season in Kuwait. The LCOE for offshore wind energy was 27.6 fils/kWh, compared to 39.3 fils/kWh for thermal power plants.

Highlights

A move towards pollution-free renewable energy, wind power and solar energy generation, has generated global concern and environmental awareness
The main aim of this paper is to compare the economic feasibility of wind and Photovoltaic (PV) power plants, each of 10 MW capacity located in the Shagaya area, west of Kuwait, after one year of operation
The aim of this paper is to reveal the economics of wind and PV power generation based on one year power production from the wind mills and PV plants of 10 MW capacity in Kuwait

Summary

Introduction

A move towards pollution-free renewable energy, wind power and solar energy generation, has generated global concern and environmental awareness. The wind turbines in the Shagaya power station were optioned with a high temperature package that allows more air flow to pass through the nacelle, allowing the dissipation of heat, this means more dust in the air filters of the nacelle, which in turn could cause blockage of the air flow and increasing the nacelles components (gearbox and hydraulic systems etc.) temperature. This may affect the operation availability and allowable down time where energy may not be produced

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion