Feasibility Study for the Deployment of 1GW of Renewable Energy at Kuwait Oil Company

Abstract This paper presents a feasibility study conducted to evaluate the potential implementation of a 1 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy project within Kuwait Oil Company, aligned with the organization's 2050 Net-Zero emissions strategy. The aim is to provide critical insights to guide future decision-making for large-scale renewable energy integration by assessing the technical, economic, and conceptual design viability of deployment to support a sustainable and efficient energy transition. The methodology employed to determine the feasibility of the 1 GW renewable energy project was structured into three main stages. The First stage involved Technology, Site, and Energy Mix Selection during which a technical and commercial evaluation of photovoltaic (PV) and wind technologies was conducted to identify the most suitable option. Sites were assessed using defined criteria to determine optimal deployment locations, and the ideal PV/Wind capacity mix was selected after analyzing configuration options. The Second stage focused on the conceptual design, project roadmap and site-specific energy yield assessments (EYAs). Conceptual designs were developed for each site and technology, including preliminary grid interconnection plans. A phased roadmap was proposed to set clear goals, align with demand growth, and support emission reduction targets. Site-specific EYAs were conducted to forecast energy production and expected yields. Third stage addressed risk assessment and financial Input with CAPEX, OPEX, and LCOE estimates developed based on conceptual design and market conditions to support financial modeling. Key project risks were identified, with proposed mitigation measures to ensure project viability. The primary objective of this feasibility study was to evaluate the achievability of installing 1 GW of renewable energy capacity within Kuwait Oil Company. The study concluded that this target is technically feasible using available sites. Four suitable locations were identified for project development, each to be implemented in two phases, resulting in eight plants—seven photovoltaic (PV) and one wind. Based on defined project criteria, the optimal energy mix was determined to be 940.8 MW of solar PV and 62 MW of wind. The estimated average annual energy production is 1,977 GWh, equivalent to 1,542.1 kton of CO2 emissions avoided. Over a 25-year plant lifetime, the total projected generation is 49,427 GWh, corresponding to 38,553.1 kton of CO2 avoided. The study confirms that both PV and wind technologies are viable, mature, and low-risk solutions that can significantly contribute to decarbonization targets. These findings provide a strong foundation for phased implementation and support KOC's Net-Zero emissions strategy. This paper presents a feasibility study for deploying 1 GW of renewable energy within Kuwait Oil Company, tailored to upstream oil and gas operations. It introduces a novel site-specific methodology integrating technology selection, energy yield forecasting, and phased implementation planning. The study adds to the state of knowledge in the petroleum industry by demonstrating how large-scale renewable integration can reduce operational carbon footprints while maintaining energy reliability in hydrocarbon-based environments.