ACWA Power, the world’s largest private water desalination company and a leader in energy transition and green hydrogen, has officially launched its first overseas Innovation Centre in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. The advanced facility will drive innovation in five key sectors: photovoltaics, wind, energy storage, green hydrogen, and seawater desalination.
With an initial investment of RMB 20 million (USD 2.8 million), the Innovation Centre features an R&D Centre and a Green Energy Laboratory. The Pudong New Area Government has recognized the facility with a ‘Group Open Innovation (GOI)’ award.
At the inauguration event, ACWA Power signed MOUs with Gulf Renewables Laboratory (GRL) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). These agreements will enhance the Centre’s capabilities by leveraging technical expertise and industry knowledge to address sector challenges.
Saleh Khabti, President of China at ACWA Power, stated that the Innovation Centre’s launch in Shanghai reflects the company’s commitment to global collaboration and technological progress. He emphasized that partnerships with leading organizations will drive the advancement of sustainable energy and water solutions worldwide.
The Centre will cultivate an innovation-driven ecosystem by engaging government entities, state-owned enterprises, startups, OEMs, research institutions, universities, and certification bodies. This cooperative model will fuel technological advancement from research to real-world deployment.
Bart Boesmans, Chief Technology Officer of ACWA Power, emphasized the crucial role of innovation in an organization’s success, especially in the energy sector. He noted that the state-of-the-art facility, supported by expert partnerships, will drive progress across ACWA Power’s value chain.
The Centre will act as a collaboration hub for Chinese partners, reinforcing a thriving innovation network in the Pudong New Area. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and supports ACWA Power’s Strategy 2.0 and China strategy, demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability and technology leadership.
The Innovation Centre is poised to make a significant impact on Saudi Arabia and China’s environmental ambitions by advancing a greener economy and fostering industrial collaboration.
Earlier this year, ACWA Power marked its official entry into China’s renewable energy sector with investment agreements exceeding 1GW of projects across multiple provinces. By 2030, the company plans to invest up to USD 30 billion in China as part of its global expansion strategy, aiming to triple its assets under management to approximately USD 250 billion.
