Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has signed a memorandum of agreement with Saudi Arabia to cooperate on "clean fossil fuels" and carbon management.
During a Dec. 4 meeting with Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources H.E. Khalid Al Falih, the parties discussed strategies to enhance the energy relations between the two countries. The MOU will involve an exchange of experts, engineers and scientists and will ease the transfer of technology, according to a U.S. Department of Energy news release. It will also encourage the organization of joint seminars, workshops and visits to facilities, research laboratories and industrial sites.
The agreement will cover supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles, carbon capture, utilization and storage, chemical looping and oxy-combustion, the energy-water nexus and other things related to carbon management and "clean fossil fuels," the DOE said.
Perry said in the release that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are entering an "exciting new phase in our energy partnership."
"This MOU outlines a future alliance not only in supercritical carbon dioxide, but also in a range of clean fossil fuels and carbon management opportunities. Together through the development of clean energy technologies our two countries can lead the world in promoting economic growth and energy production in an environmentally responsible way."
Al Falih said cooperation in this field has limitless potential and would have a positive impact on the global economy, environment and energy supplies.
"The MOU also underscores the kingdom's leadership role in clean energy deployment at scale, venturing, and international collaborations to advance innovation in clean energy technology. This also highlights the ministry's commitment to maintaining its national contributions on enhancing clean energy technologies that would enable sustainable development in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the national economic diversification plan, and fulfill its responsibilities as a global energy producer and exporter," Al Falih said.
Japanese government entities signed a memorandum of understanding with Wyoming's governor in 2016, while a research delegation from South Korea visited the U.S. in August to learn more about carbon capture technologies.
