A major scientific collaboration between Alstom and Saudi Arabia’s prestigious King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) was signed today. A further Memorandum of Understanding with key regional client Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) underpins the deal, which will help make the local Heavy Fuel Oil, or HFO, a cleaner option for electricity generation. SEC will support and mentor this project.
Both agreements were signed at a ceremony held in Riyadh by SEC President and CEO Eng. Ali Saleh Al-Barrak, Alstom Thermal Power President Philippe Cochet, and Prof. Dr. William L. Roberts from KAUST.
It is Alstom’s first joint research project with the University since joining the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) as Associate member in July of 2012. The project will be led by Prof. Dr. William Roberts at the Clean Combustion Research Centre (CCRC) located on the KAUST campus in Thuwal by the Red Sea.
The key focus will be to study the makeup of HFOs, and analyze the composition of ‘cenospheres’ – tiny airborne droplets of fuel associated with less efficient combustion. In addition the research team will investigate ways to reduce NOx, SO2, CO and particulate emissions when firing HFO.
“This is an exciting venture between three organisations each committed to raising both generating capacity and environmental protection within the Kingdom,” said Philippe Cochet.
The announcement of this new research project comes as electricity demand grows in the Kingdom and the Saudi government reduces domestic usage of higher grades of oil to raise export revenues as part of a more sustainable long term economic strategy. This move is expected to lead to greater use of dense HFOs, which contain more asphaltene heavy compounds and create more cenospheres, requiring more sophisticated environmental mitigation methods.
“As Saudi Arabia starts to use more HFO it becomes even more important that partnerships like that between Alstom, SEC and KAUST are there to ensure that this fuel is used intelligently and responsibly to the best advantage of the Kingdom,” says Eng. Ali Al-Barrak SEC Chief Executive. “Together we are all firmly committed to cleaner power generation in Saudi Arabia, in line with the government’s own policies.”
This research project with KAUST follows other recent Alstom partnerships and joint ventures in Saudi Arabia, including the Rabigh technical services workshop established last year, and the ongoing Expert Development Programme with SEC.