Jeddah, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has announced a strategic partnership with NEOM to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s transition to a green economy. The collaboration will focus on advancing hydrogen and sustainable fuel production technologies through three innovative applied research projects.
Under this partnership, NEOM’s Education, Research, and Innovation Foundation, through the Hydrogen and E-Fuels Applied Research Institute (HEFARI), is sponsoring the development of hydrogen as a renewable energy source. KAUST researchers and scientists are leading these initiatives, showcasing their progress at a recent two-day summit held at the KAUST Research and Technology Park.
The summit brought together senior representatives from KAUST, NEOM, HEFARI, INOWA, Imperial College, Saudi Aramco, HyET, Cruise Saudi, Next7, and Dow. Attendees engaged in discussions on the ongoing projects, the challenges ahead, and the opportunities for advancing a green hydrogen economy in Saudi Arabia, the
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Key topics of the summit included the economic production of green hydrogen and ammonia, their critical applications in sustainable aviation fuel and marine propulsion, and the development of essential technologies such as electrolyzers, improved catalysts, and membranes. The participants also addressed the crucial manufacturing, transportation, and storage needs of these technologies.
The three research projects sponsored by HEFARI are led by prominent KAUST faculty members. Professor William Roberts, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is spearheading efforts to develop carbon-neutral fuels for marine engines, addressing new regulations to decarbonize shipping. Professor Mani Sarathy, Professor of Chemical Engineering, is focused on reducing the costs of large-scale electrolysis technologies to produce cleaner hydrogen. Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Thibaut Guiberti is working on minimizing unwanted emissions from engines and turbines that utilize green
ammonia as fuel.
This collaboration supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goals to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to become the world’s largest producer and supplier of green hydrogen. Additionally, it aligns with the Kingdom’s target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 through the circular carbon economy approach, which emphasizes replacing and localizing advanced carbon management technologies and enhancing integrated solutions to combat climate change, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to maintaining global leadership in this critical field.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
