KACST And ACWA Power Collaborate For Clean Energy And Water Desalination Hub In Saudi Arabia

In a significant stride toward advancing clean energy and sustainable water desalination, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and ACWA Power Company have signed an agreement to establish a collaborative “Clean Energy and Water Desalination Technologies Development Center.”

The agreement, inked by KACST Vice President Dr Saeed Al-Shehri and ACWA Power’s Thomas Altmann, envisions the center as a hub for scientific research and technical development in crucial areas such as solar energy technologies, energy storage, and innovative materials for desalination membranes.

The initiative aims to reduce costs and emissions in desalination processes through the use of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies. The collaboration also seeks to enhance ACWA Power’s role in national laboratories, fostering a culture of cooperation and innovation while transferring cutting-edge water desalination technology to various industrial sectors.

Dr Saeed highlighted the center’s role in aligning technical products with public and private sector needs, contributing to national aspirations in research, development, and innovation.

Thomas Altmann expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing its goal to develop market-ready solutions, address commercial needs with agility and innovation, and contribute to the local research and innovation ecosystem in line with Vision 2030 objectives.