KAUST, HEFARI and NEOM join forces to accelerate the hydrogen economy in Saudi Arabia

26 August, 2024

Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, 2024 – A powerful partnership to support Saudi Arabia’s hydrogen economy has been formed between King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), NEOM’s Education, Research, and Innovation Foundation (ERIF), and ENOWA.

NEOM’s ERIF has sponsored three strategic projects under its Hydrogen and e-Fuels Applied Research Institute (HEFARI) in collaboration with KAUST researchers to develop hydrogen as a renewable energy vector. The progress of these projects was presented at a recent summit held at KAUST’s Research and Technology Park.

The two-day summit featured senior representatives from KAUST, ERIF, HEFARI, ENOWA, Imperial College London, Saudi Aramco, HyET, Cruise Saudi, Nxt7, and Dow. The discussions focused on progress, challenges, and opportunities for advancing the Kingdom’s green hydrogen economy.

Expert insights were shared on the cost-effective production of green hydrogen and ammonia, alongside their deployment in critical applications such as sustainable fuels for aviation and marine propulsion. Topics covered included electrolyser development—focusing on improved catalysts, membranes, and manufacturing requirements—as well as transportation and storage needs.