Cluster Steering Committee (CSC) 1st Meeting

In a transformative stride towards environmental sustainability, Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), has achieved a significant milestone in its ambitious CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) project. This initiative, funded by the CO2 Cluster Grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), brings together esteemed organizations including Texas A&M, Qatar University, MOECC, MME, Kahramaa, Al-Attiyah Foundation, Agrico, and Qatar Shell to tackle carbon emissions as a major national and global issue. The CCUS project, led by QEERI, is strategically aligned with several key objectives. It supports Qatar’s commitment towards addressing climate change challenges, develops technologies towards Net-Zero emissions, creates a roadmap to Qatar’s carbon circular economy, builds capacity for local talented researchers/engineers, and develops partnerships with Qatar Energy/MOECC/MM and Kahramaa to drive the carbon management strategy at the national level.

Involving a team of 37 researchers, including 10 students, the project collaboratively pushes the boundaries of carbon capture technology. This diverse team harnesses expertise from various fields to contribute to innovative solutions essential for sustainable carbon utilization. With the goal of developing an innovative Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology for CO2 capture and conversion, this cutting-edge approach, once successfully implemented, holds the potential to revolutionize carbon management practices on a global scale.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) celebrated a significant milestone with the first CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Cluster Steering Committee (CSC) meeting. The event showcased the remarkable progress achieved in the CCUS cluster project, a collaborative initiative aimed at advancing carbon management and environmental sustainability. Representatives from leading organizations, including Texas A&M, Qatar University, MOECC, MME, Kahramaa, Al-Attiyah Foundation, Agrico, Qatar Shell, and Qatar Energy, joined forces to explore innovative technologies for capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and converting it into value-added products.

Dr. Abdulkarem Amhamed, the CCUS Program Director, delivered a comprehensive update on the project progress. The initiative focuses on using cutting-edge materials and practical CO2 adsorption and regeneration methods to reduce high-energy consumption stages, setting it apart from conventional CO2 capturing technologies. A key highlight is the development and deployment of an advanced direct air capture of CO2 concept using HVAC systems. The captured CO2 will be transformed into platform chemicals using efficient electro-catalytic conversion cells, marking a significant stride towards sustainable carbon utilization. The CCUS technical research team demonstrated significant achievements, showcasing tangible deliverables that include securing two granted patents and four patent applications and successfully developed two fully functional lab-scale prototypes for Direct CO2 capture and conversion. Dr. Tareq Al-Ansari, QEERI’s Acting Executive Director, and Associate Professor, CSE,“I am delighted to announce the success of our inaugural CCUS Cluster Steering Committee Meeting, which is an achievement that underscores our dedication to pioneering climate innovation. This milestone represents the development of a pilot CCUS- DAC project that has blossomed from fundamental research. Together, with our partners, we are committed to pioneering innovation in climate technology, support carbon management and to contribute to a sustainable future in the sphere of energy and the environment.