Spatial Management for Solar and Wind Energy in Kuwait

Abstract

Kuwait situated at the northwestern part of the Arabian Gulf experiences severe arid environmental conditions. Kuwait is facing many challenges in the sustainable development of the energy sector. These challenges are: deposited dust, increase of carbonate and mud percentages in dust, lower solar radiation, high relative humidity and low wind speed. These challenges that affects more the photovoltaic (PV) power stations were carefully monitored in order to special manage the solar and wind energy in Kuwait. Using 14 weather stations, solar radiation, wind speed and directions were monitored during the period (2010-2017). The annual deposited dust represents one of the highest in the region with 216 t km-2 as an average in 2009-2010 and 339 t km-2 in 2010-2011. Also, carbonates and mud content within deposited dust represent the highest percentages compared to the surrounding regions. The annual power production of wind farms in Kuwait is 2.3 times higher than PV unit with similar capacity. Finally, maps that were produces for all environmental challenges for solar and wind energy in this present paper show that the northwestern regions of Kuwait are the most appropriate areas for setting up a wind and/or a PV power stations.