Amsterdam, April 25, 2024, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) recently took part in the 26th annual World Energy Congress held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from April 22 to 25.
This year's congress centered around the theme "Redesigning Energy for People and Planet." KACST's involvement aimed to spotlight the pivotal role of the national laboratory in fast-tracking technological advancements and localizing innovations in key economic sectors such as energy, industry, and environmental sustainability. These efforts align seamlessly with the nation's aspirations and strategic priorities for research, development, and innovation, in line with the overarching goals of Vision 2030 to bolster Saudi Arabia's global standing.
At the event, KACST showcased several groundbreaking initiatives in the future economy sector at the Saudi pavilion, under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy. One standout initiative highlighted was the "Short- and Medium-Term Electricity Demand Forecasting Project." This initiative aims to accurately predict electricity demand, leading to reduced waste for service providers and lowered electricity costs for consumers, contributing significantly to efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the energy sector.
Another noteworthy presentation by KACST was the "Radiative Cooling Materials for Buildings Project." This pioneering project focuses on enhancing energy efficiency in buildings located in dry and hot regions. Utilizing a novel material derived from natural sand, this project enables buildings to self-cool without relying on electricity, offering a sustainable solution to combat energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the realm of environmental sustainability, KACST showcased its impactful "Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Basalt Rocks Project." This initiative involves storing harmful carbon emissions in abundant volcanic basalt rocks along the Kingdom's western coast. By doing so, the project contributes significantly to Saudi Arabia's ambitious targets of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, fostering improved air quality, and safeguarding the environment.
Moreover, Dr. Majed Al-Aawad, a distinguished researcher at KACST, delivered a compelling presentation on "Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Platform for Carbon Capture." These innovative porous materials boast a high surface area and the capability to selectively absorb carbon dioxide, presenting a promising breakthrough in carbon-capture technologies and reinforcing KACST's commitment to driving impactful solutions for global sustainability challenges.
