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This side event, moderated by Abdulaziz Al-Jodai, the International Energy Agency’s Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), focused on efforts in the GCC to innovate clean technologies to address carbon emissions.
Mohammed Al Hajji, Saudi Aramco, spoke about his company’s work on achieving environmental sustainability through clean energy technology development. He outlined the process of cleaning gas using amine sweeteners, and drew attention to hydraulic energy recovery skids, which are used to recover and reuse “waste energy.” He noted that this energy can power more than 4,000 homes, and enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas sector.
Badr Alharbi, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), spoke on the state of global atmospheric CO2 and methane levels and implications for projected climate impacts in GCC countries, noting that the current emissions trajectory will lead to a more than 2°C temperature rise. He shared that the Earth’s temperature could increase by 1.5°C in ten years, underscoring that each year from 2004 has been warmer than the last, which has meant a 1-2°C temperature increase in the Arabian Peninsula. He noted various negative impacts of temperature rise, stressing that even in the best case scenario, temperature rise in the Arabian Peninsula will be unprecedented.
Boon Ooi, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), spoke on next generation energy efficient lighting, noting that Saudi Arabia is investing in research and development of laser lighting technologies. He drew attention to the energy savings from laser lighting as compared to LEDs, noting that focused laser beams can be used for light without producing heat. He said that while it is now possible to use a beam mixer to create white light bulbs, this area needs further work to make these light bulbs more efficient, and noted challenges related to high power solid-state lighting, including the cost and the need for more research.
In the ensuing discussion, participants addressed the safety concerns related to laser lighting, disposal of laser lighting material concerns. |
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