ACWA Power, the world’s largest private water desalination company, leader in energy transition, and first mover into green hydrogen, has announced seven partnership agreements on the sidelines of ACWA Power’s Riyadh-based flagship Innovation Days event (ID25), the highest in the history of the annual event.
The agreements were signed with local and international entities, including state-owned Saudi Aramco; UK-based Bluewater Bio; global chemicals producer Dow; Hysata, a manufacturer of green hydrogen electrolysers; as well as an extension of the master research agreement with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
Thomas Altmann, EVP Innovation and New Technology at ACWA Power, highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability through investments in advanced desalination, renewable energy, and green hydrogen, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s energy and water infrastructure.
On the inaugural day, two agreements were signed with Saudi Aramco, to accelerate the deployment of renewables in the Kingdom, including for an Advanced Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Forecasting project that consists of PV energy forecasting model using big data analytics and machine learning. By improving the accuracy of solar generation predictions, the model will optimise grid stability, energy dispatch, and microgrid energy management. The second agreement focuses on the systematic assessment and reliability testing of utility-scale vanadium flow battery (FVFB) technology in local climate conditions. The project will address the challenges of long-duration energy storage and supporting the integration of renewable energy sources for applications such as water desalination.
The partnership between ACWA Power and Bluewater Bio, a UK-based water treatment solutions provider, will test advanced filtration technology for ACWA Power’s desalination projects in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of improving the efficiency and sustainability of desalination processes.
Another desalination-related agreement was signed with Dow, which will involve testing Dow’s anti-scaling chemicals at ACWA Power’s pilot facility, providing valuable data on the efficacy of the chemicals in preventing scaling and developing more sustainable desalination solutions.
The second day of the event has witnessed an additional pilot agreement with Hysata marks a key step towards scaling up cost-effective green hydrogen production and will involve an in-country demonstration of Hysata’s technology in Saudi Arabia. This key collaboration will bring together ACWA Power’s world leading experience and Hysata’s cutting-edge high efficiency electrolyser technology. This initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, strengthening the Kingdom’s leadership as a global hub for green hydrogen innovation.
In additional, ACWA Power and KAUST have extended their Master Research Agreement (MRA) to build on their existing collaboration to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for water desalination and solar energy. The two entities have jointly operated a Centre of Excellence for Desalination and Solar Power since 2019.
Furthermore, ACWA Power has signed a Framework Agreement with Fraunhofer IMWS, Fraunhofer ISC, and Fraunhofer IWES, marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration in renewable energy and green hydrogen research and development. This partnership will focus on advancing innovative solutions in the clean energy sector, leveraging Fraunhofer’s leading expertise in materials, energy systems, and hydrogen technologies. The agreement sets the foundation for joint research initiatives aimed at driving efficiency, sustainability, and technological progress in the global energy transition.
Under the theme “Innovate for Impact”, ID25, welcomed over 1000 delegates to explore how open innovation can drive tangible value creation and boost its ecosystem.
