ACWA Power has wrapped up its “Innovation Days 2026” event in Riyadh, signing 27 partnership agreements with leading global institutions to accelerate advances in clean energy and water desalination, as Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen its position as a hub for sustainable technology Solarquarter reported.
Held over three days at “The Garage” in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the event brought together government representatives, research bodies, technology firms and industry leaders to help move emerging technologies from research to large-scale projects.
Among the key outcomes were collaborations with universities including MIT, Stanford University and China’s Tsinghua University. The partnerships will focus on green hydrogen, advanced desalination, energy storage, industrial artificial intelligence and the creation of global innovation networks. ACWA Power said the agreements are expected to enhance efficiency, lower costs and reinforce its international project pipeline.
Green hydrogen emerged as a central theme, with the company signing deals with firms such as Topsoe and Baker Hughes to develop advanced electrolysis and ammonia production technologies. These efforts are aimed at expanding hydrogen projects and improving their commercial feasibility, supporting ACWA Power’s ambition to take a leading role in the global market.
Water desalination was another priority area. Collaborations with institutions including UCLA and MIT will target new membrane technologies and batch reverse osmosis systems designed to cut energy consumption, reduce operating expenses and improve water recovery—an important step for regions facing water shortages.
The summit also highlighted long-duration energy storage and the growing use of artificial intelligence in power and water facilities, where AI tools are expected to optimise operations, boost performance and minimise downtime.
In a major announcement, ACWA Power said the next “Innovation Days” will be held in Shanghai in October 2026, a move intended to tap China’s manufacturing capacity and artificial intelligence expertise to speed up the rollout of new technologies.
Chief Executive Officer Marco Arcelli said the strong response to the event underscores rising global interest in collaboration and innovation, adding that initiatives like Innovation Days reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a testing ground for integrated energy solutions under Vision 2030 while strengthening the company’s position in green hydrogen and sustainable infrastructure.
