KAUST is turning up the heat on geothermal energy — digging into the science while rallying key stakeholders to build a national framework, advance pilot research, and address regulatory gaps. The goal: tapping the Kingdom’s full underground potential and boosting the role of renewables in line with the “green” aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030.

“We feel that KAUST should and could play a leading role in helping the Kingdom develop this natural, renewable resource,” said Research Professor Thomas Finkbeiner, Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering. He highlighted how geothermal provides consistent baseload energy, which other renewables cannot, and it can replace hydrocarbons for many desalination and direct cooling purposes regionally. “Geothermal is really a much-needed energy supply.”

Geothermal offers weather- and sunlight-independent power at a low environmental footprint. With huge amounts of energy required for cooling and water desalination — especially during the summertime in Saudi Arabia — Finkbeiner suggested that shifting even a small portion of this demand to geothermal could substantially reduce emissions and significantly boost economic efficiency. However, relevant collaborative research is still necessary.

The KAUST Geothermal Exploration Project (K-GEP) serves as a blueprint for such developments. Proponents consider localized direct use of geothermal energy as promising — especially in hot, arid regions. KAUST faculty leading the project include Finkbeiner, Professor Martin Mai (Earth Science and Engineering), and Professor Volker Vahrenkamp (Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering).

In early 2024, KAUST and TAQA Geothermal, a Saudi-based energy company, partnered to spud a 400-meter test well on campus as a test case for reconnaissance, monitoring, and surveillance of future geothermal energy extraction in Saudi Arabia. The pilot well is not used for energy production, noted Finkbeiner, but is outfitted with sensors that gather subsurface structure, composition, and temperature data — essential for planning deeper geothermal drilling.

Geothermal energy holds strong appeal across government, industry, and academia for its clean, reliable potential. During the KAUST Sustainability Office’s recent Earth Day panel, representatives across sectors converged to discuss Saudi Arabia’s transition toward low-carbon energy efficiency.

Joining Finkbeiner on stage from KAUST was Vahrenkamp, along with external stakeholders Meshary Al-Ayed, Managing Director and CEO of TAQA Geothermal; Jón Örn Jónsson, Geothermal Energy Manager, ENOWA/NEOM; Steve Lemoine, CEO of Dalkia Middle East; Abdulrahman Al-Shuhail, Chief Technologist of Geophysics at Aramco’s EXPEC Advanced Research Center; and Nouf Abdulghni, Principal Engineer, Saudi Ministry of Energy.

Panelists addressed the many technical and operational challenges of geothermal development — from geophysical prospecting to deep drilling in unexplored subsurface terrain. They emphasized the need for reliable data to produce a national resource map, with KAUST’s shallow pilot well as a start to de-risking future projects and attracting investment. While the geothermal potential is great, said Finkbeiner, dedicated legislation is needed, with ministry efforts currently underway.

“We had quite a mix of people, which emphasizes great interest from stakeholders in the Kingdom,” he added, emphasizing how Saudi Arabia’s geothermal progress still requires clear rules on ownership, distribution, and liability. Meanwhile, service companies such as Dalkia and TAQA continue forming alliances, while Aramco controls much of the subsurface data and activity. “It’s nice to see them engaged and being part of these conversations and discussions.”

Another highlight, he noted, was the panelists’ agreement to keep advancing the topic after the event. “We have a plan to keep moving forward, and we may have created some momentum that could help accelerate development.”

Read more at KAUST News.