In Kuwait, where electricity consumption per capita ranks among the highest globally, the integration of renewable energy into housing projects is emerging as both a necessity and a policy priority. The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) is positioning itself at the center of this shift, aligning new projects with New Kuwait 2035, the national vision for economic diversification and sustainability.
A tangible example is the South Abdullah Al-Mubarak housing development, completed in July, which introduced 434 solar-powered streetlight poles out of a total 3,164. This represents 13.7% of the project’s lighting infrastructure, generating annual electricity savings of 104,854 kWh. While modest in scale, the project is intended as a pilot for broader adoption in upcoming developments, including South Saad Al-Abdullah and South Sabah Al-Ahmad.
The reliance on hybrid lighting systems—where solar energy is supplemented by grid power—reflects the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy’s caution toward reliability. According to ministry spokesperson Fatma Hayat, hybrid models are best suited to dense urban areas where uninterrupted lighting is critical, while standalone solar systems are being deployed in remote locations such as Boubyan Island and the road to Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port. This dual-track approach underscores Kuwait’s need to balance renewable adoption with the resilience of its power system, particularly amid rising peak load demand.
From an emissions perspective, the benefits are clear. Solar-powered lighting reduces carbon intensity while also cutting operational costs and enhancing system resilience during outages. Nasser Khuraibet, PAHW’s Deputy Director-General for Planning and Design, emphasized that the project is part of a larger strategy to incorporate renewable energy, smart urban planning, and green building technologies into Kuwait’s expanding housing stock. By diversifying energy sources, PAHW seeks to reduce dependence on conventional electricity, which in Kuwait remains overwhelmingly fueled by natural gas and oil.
Yet the pace of integration remains gradual. With solar poles accounting for less than 15% of the South Abdullah Al-Mubarak project, the initiative highlights the early stage of Kuwait’s renewable energy transition. Scaling from pilot-scale interventions to city-wide applications will require greater alignment across ministries, consistent funding, and expanded technical capacity. The government’s current studies on using renewable energy as the primary source in select projects—with the grid serving as backup—suggest a cautious but steady trajectory.
The adoption of renewable systems in housing is particularly significant in Kuwait’s context, where residential and infrastructure demand is expanding. Integrating solar-powered infrastructure at the design stage not only lowers long-term costs but also positions housing projects as testbeds for Kuwait’s wider decarbonization strategy. If replicated at scale, these projects could contribute meaningfully to reducing the country’s energy intensity, which remains one of the highest among GCC states.
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