Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has signed four strategic project agreements with the region’s leading power plant developer ACWA Power in order to enhance the desalination sector.
This research collaboration further aims to drive greener desalination initiatives towards tangible impact both in Saudi Arabia and internationally, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The signing ceremony highlights the long-term research and innovation partnership between academia and industry in Saudi Arabia.
“Such collaborations will continue to be crucial in enabling the Kingdom to remain at the forefront of international scientific advances and maintain its position as a world leader in desalinated water production,” as per the statement.
With a presence in 13 countries, ACWA Power is one of the world’s leading independent developers, investors, and operators of power generation and desalinated water production plants.
Thomas Altmann Executive Vice President Innovation & New Technology ACWA Power
“Innovation is very much in the heart of our work; it brings us forward; it’s the future. With KAUST, we have found a research partner who is adding value to our business, and our work is very complimentary. The projects will demonstrate the potential of academia and business working in tandem to solve real-world challenges of bringing fresh water through desalination to both communities and industries alike. We hope that our collaboration will directly result in the implementation of research-backed projects that deliver impact.”
Prof. Johannes Vrouwenvelder, Director of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center at KAUST, said that, “This collaboration with ACWA Power will significantly impact the desalination sector. Our partnership will help the translation of academic research into demonstrable impact, leading to greener desalination at lower cost, contributing to the Kingdom’s water-secure future.”
KAUST and ACWA Power have a mutual interest in optimizing seawater desalination processes and better monitoring or predicting desalination plant operations through artificial intelligence (AI) and modeling.
