In a move set to advance the fields of clean energy and water desalination, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) joined forces with ACWA Power Company to establish a pioneering “Clean Energy and Water Desalination Technologies Development Center”. This collaboration was formalized through a contract signed amidst a ceremony graced by distinguished officials from both organizations.
Dr. Saeed Al-Shehri of KACST and Thomas Altmann of ACWA Power were the signatories of the agreement. Notable attendees included KACST President Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Desouki, ACWA Power’s Founder Mohammad Abunayyan, and KACST’s Senior VP for Research and Development Dr. Talal Al-Sudairi.
The newly formed center is tasked with conducting extensive research and driving technological advancements in crucial areas of clean energy and water desalination. It’s set to focus on the development of solar energy technologies, energy storage systems to bolster future energy grids, and cutting-edge desalination membrane materials and technologies aimed at reducing both cost and environmental impact of desalination processes.
To achieve its goals, the center will harness the power of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies to streamline the research process. This initiative also seeks to enhance ACWA Power’s participation in national laboratories and innovation hubs, fostering a culture of cooperation and innovation within academic and business communities and transferring groundbreaking desalination technology to various industrial sectors.
On the occasion of the signing, Dr. Al-Shehri expressed that the initiative with ACWA Power—a leader in energy transformation—is aligned with KACST’s commitment to connecting technical innovations with the needs of both public and private sector entities. The partnership supports national objectives in research, development, and innovation through the use of KACST’s laboratories, scientific expertise, incubator programs, and technology accelerators. These resources will be directed towards developing sustainable technologies for water desalination and clean energy, contributing to the Kingdom’s ideal energy mix.
Altmann highlighted the excitement surrounding the partnership with KACST, emphasizing the significance of collaboration in their research and development strategy. The goal of the partnership is to create practical, market-ready solutions that meet commercial needs with speed and innovation. It also aims to bolster the local research and innovation landscape, in harmony with the Vision 2030 objectives. By pooling both organizations’ expertise and resources, the focus will be on enhancing joint programs through the development of services, pilot plants, laboratories, and state-of-the-art simulation and monitoring tools.