KAUST and KAPSARC have launched a book titled "The Clean Hydrogen Economy and Saudi Arabia", co-edited by KAUST's Dr. Saumitra Saxena. The book analyzes the global hydrogen economy through Saudi Arabia's perspective, discussing clean hydrogen research and technologies. Saudi Arabia aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 and become a major clean hydrogen producer by 2030. Why it matters: The publication highlights Saudi Arabia's strategic shift towards clean energy and its potential leadership in the global hydrogen economy.
KAUST researchers are working on green hydrogen production, which uses renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The current methods are capital intensive and require desalinated water, which is scarce in desert regions. KAUST is partnering with NEOM, a futuristic region on the Red Sea, where green hydrogen will be an important part of the economy. Why it matters: Innovations in green hydrogen production and cost reduction will be critical for sustainable energy in regions like Saudi Arabia.
KAUST hosted the Frontiers in Energy Storage 2026 conference, emphasizing energy storage technologies for renewable energy. The conference highlighted electrochemical and chemical systems, including advanced batteries and hydrogen, as complementary layers for long-duration and industrial resilience. KAUST is developing energy-storage solutions relevant for the Kingdom and valuable to global partners, aiming to engineer solutions to withstand extreme environmental temperatures. Why it matters: This positions Saudi Arabia as a potential global exporter of resilient energy hardware, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals in renewable energy.