Riyadh: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), in partnership with Zhejiang University of China, hosted the 9th International Training Workshop on Waste-to-Energy at The Garage in Riyadh with participation from leading local and international experts and researchers in energy, environment, and sustainability.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the workshop is part of KACST's initiatives to support the research, development, and innovation ecosystem, aiming to strengthen the Kingdom's position as a global hub for sustainable energy and advanced technologies. This aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on creating a sustainable, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation.
The event included 25 speakers from renowned universities and research centers worldwide, such as the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, US's Columbia University, the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP), the Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT), and SUS Environment company, in addition to the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC).
The workshop aimed to exchange knowledge on the latest waste-to-energy technologies and support the Kingdom's efforts to reduce emissions and enhance environmental quality through innovative solutions that contribute to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in sustainability and clean energy. It emphasized building national capabilities, localizing advanced technologies, and improving the integration between academia and industry.
During the event, KACST and Zhejiang University signed a strategic partnership agreement for joint research projects in waste-to-energy and the clean and sustainable use of energy. This partnership seeks to develop solutions to environmental challenges, promote the circular economy, advance artificial intelligence applications in sustainable energy, and facilitate the exchange of researchers and experts between Saudi Arabia and China.
The workshop sessions covered various topics, including advanced waste-to-energy technologies, carbon capture and the use of advanced porous materials like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), international industrial models for waste and energy management, artificial intelligence and digital transformation to boost plant efficiency, integration between academia and industry to spur innovation and technology localization, and developing national capabilities through training and skill building.