English
العربيةDeveloping adept and thorough energy management solutions
The Energy Efficiency Technologies (EET) program devises solutions to ensure the efficient utilization of national power and energy. The program focuses on reducing the power and energy requirements of buildings by setting the optimum efficiency requirements for building envelope and operation strategies. The program also assesses the technical viability of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and other energy-efficient emerging technologies. The Program also focuses on energy policy and planning to develop reference energy scenarios, regulations, incentives, and public awareness.
ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE OF PRACTICE
Planned energy management since 1983
KISR developed Kuwait’s first energy efficiency code of practice, which was adopted and implemented by the Ministry of Electricity in 1983. The code required the utilization of thermal insulation in the wall and roof sections of buildings, restricted glazing areas for different glazing types, and specified minimum ventilation rates for various building structures as well as standardized the power requirements for lighting and air conditioning systems. The code is regularly revisited and updated with the latest in energy efficiency standards and applications, most recently in 2014. In 2002, the national savings as a direct result of these energy efficiency regulations were estimated to be 1,760 MW, 78 million barrels of fuel, and a total of KD 1.53 billion.
ENERGY AUDITING IN BUILDINGS
Reducing energy consumption throughout Kuwait
The energy auditing of buildings is the study of how energy is used in a facility and an analysis of what alternatives can be used to reduce energy consumption and, in turn, its cost. KISR has conducted several energy auditing projects targeted at achieving energy efficiency and peak power reduction. Some of the facilities that KISR’s staff have successfully audited include the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Ministry of Public Works, the Al-Fanar and Avenues shopping malls, the Public Authority of Civil Identification, and Kuwait Port authorities. While energy auditing strategies may vary from one building to the next, KISR has been able to save an average of 15% in energy consumption in the buildings they have audited.
DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT OF MAJOR POWER CONSUMERS THROUGH REMOTE CONTROL
Strategies to reduce the national carbon footprint
National Load Management is important for any utility to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply at optimum cost. This is achieved by restricting the demand for electrical power by consumers and improving load patterns to enhance the national load factor. The electrical demand for different users can be reduced by implementing various proven Demand Side Management (DSM) strategies. These strategies can be implemented and coordinated by utilities to modulate the national load from a centralized location through a remote control. Under a project funded by the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW), KISR has designed, developed, installed, and tested a pilot system to implement remote DSM. In this project, several DSM schemes were implemented in different types of buildings, and reductions in peak power demand and daily energy consumption were achieved and quantified. Reflecting the savings of this project on the national level during the summer season, about 1,000 MW of peak power demand can be realized. This amount of savings is equivalent to KD 500 million towards the cost of new power generation and distribution equipment, a reduction of KD 140,000/day of MEW summer season fuel bill, and the mitigation of 7,000 tons/day of CO2 emissions.