KAUST And NEOM Forge Strategic Alliance To Fuel Green Economy With Hydrogen Technologies

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has entered into a strategic partnership with NEOM to advance Saudi Arabia's green economy. This collaboration aims to develop hydrogen and sustainable fuel production technologies through three innovative applied research projects. The partnership is facilitated by NEOM's Education, Research, and Innovation Foundation via the Hydrogen and E-Fuels Applied Research Institute (HEFARI).

The summit at KAUST Research and Technology Park showcased these initiatives, bringing together senior representatives from various organisations. Attendees included members from KAUST, NEOM, HEFARI, INOWA, Imperial College, Saudi Aramco, HyET, Cruise Saudi, Next7, and Dow. They discussed ongoing projects, challenges, and opportunities for advancing a green hydrogen economy in Saudi Arabia.

Key topics at the summit included the economic production of green hydrogen and ammonia. These are crucial for sustainable aviation fuel and marine propulsion. Discussions also covered the development of essential technologies like electrolyzers, improved catalysts, and membranes. Manufacturing, transportation, and storage needs for these technologies were also addressed.

Prominent KAUST faculty members lead the three research projects sponsored by HEFARI. Professor William Roberts focuses on developing carbon-neutral fuels for marine engines to meet new shipping decarbonisation regulations. Professor Mani Sarathy works on reducing costs of large-scale electrolysis technologies for cleaner hydrogen production. Assistant Professor Thibaut Guiberti aims to minimise unwanted emissions from engines using green ammonia as fuel.

This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia's ambitious goals to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also supports the Kingdom's aim to become the world's largest producer and supplier of green hydrogen. Additionally, it contributes to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 through the circular carbon economy approach.

The circular carbon economy strategy emphasises replacing and localising advanced carbon management technologies. It enhances integrated solutions to combat climate change while maintaining Saudi Arabia's global leadership in this critical field.

Participants at the summit engaged in discussions about the challenges ahead in developing a green hydrogen economy. They explored opportunities for advancing this sector in Saudi Arabia. The focus was on economic production methods for green hydrogen and ammonia.

KAUST researchers are at the forefront of these initiatives. Their progress was highlighted during the two-day summit at KAUST Research and Technology Park. The event brought together senior representatives from various organisations to discuss ongoing projects.

In summary, this partnership between KAUST and NEOM is set to accelerate the transformation of Saudi Arabia's green economy through innovative research in hydrogen and sustainable fuels.

With inputs from SPA