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.

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.