A bioenergy blueprint for Kuwait: regional research insights, waste valorisation, feasibility and policy pathways

Kuwait faces mounting pressure to diversify its energy mix, reduce its dependency on landfills, and meet climate targets under Vision 2035. Despite producing over 2.6 million tonnes of organic waste annually, including food and agricultural residues, sewage, and petroleum sludge, bioenergy currently remains absent from Kuwait’s energy portfolio. This paper makes a case for anaerobic digestion (AD) as a strategic enabler of Kuwait’s low-carbon transition. Regional bibliometric analysis reveals Kuwait’s peripheral role in Middle Eastern bioenergy research, characterised by limited collaboration and a lack of thematic leadership. Building on this, the study models a technoeconomic scenario for treating 50% of Kuwait’s organic waste via AD, estimating 394 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually, 197,538 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions avoided, and over $1.81 billion in profit over 20 years. A comparative framework highlights the fiscal and environmental superiority of AD over landfilling. The findings are translated into a policy roadmap that emphasises pricing reform, integration of the circular economy, public-private investment, and alignment of science and policy. AD offers Kuwait the opportunity to transform waste into renewable assets, enhance energy security, meet climate goals, and lead in regional sustainability.