Thirty members of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, presented projects at the World Petroleum Conference in Riyadh, highlighting ideas in renewable energy, carbon capture and artificial intelligence.
The projects included a locally developed nanomaterial-based carbon capture technology that aims to reduce costs by 30%, according to its developer. Another project explored self-cooling technologies to improve solar panel performance in desert environments.
A separate team presented an AI-powered system for oil well safety management, designed to predict potential risks up to 48 hours in advance. The project was shaped in part by field visits to energy company Taqa, according to the announcement.
The participants also showcased a system that converts waste heat from oil wells into clean energy for remote communities. A 19-year-old student presented the project to a delegation from Kazakhstan, after beginning work on it during secondary school.
Mawhiba members also took part in discussions on blue hydrogen with a European expert, covering its technical and economic dimensions.
The conference brought together 70 ministers and 300 chief executives, giving the students an opportunity to discuss their research with energy companies and specialists. The participation reflects Mawhiba’s focus on moving promising ideas from school laboratories and enrichment programs toward practical applications.
Source: Al Eqtisadiah
