King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) is an advisory think tank specializing in energy economics, climate, and sustainability that seeks to advance Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and inform global policies through evidence-based advice and applied research. It is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In 2023, the center announced its recent accreditation of observer status by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), marking another significant milestone in its journey as a leading advisory think tank, actively participating in global dialogues about energy, climate, and the environment.

In 2020 KAPSARC was ranked by the University of Pennsylvania Think Tank and Civil Societies Program as 13th place out of 60th in its list of global top Energy and Resource Policy think tanks. It was ranked 15th out of 103 in the MENA Think Tank Index 2019.

In 2023, KAPSARC received two awards during the 8th OPEC International Seminar held in Vienna on 5-6 July 2023.

At the event, the Center received the ‘Best Energy Research Institute Award‘ for its contributions to research within the energy industry. As well as the ‘OPEC Award for the Best Energy Research Paper‘ for research on oil market stability.

Moreover, KAPSARC announced its recent accreditation of observer status by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), marking another significant milestone in its journey as a leading advisory think tank, actively participating in global dialogues about energy, climate, and the environment, in addition to its role as an observer to the climate negotiation in the UN Climate Change Conference.

History
KAPSARC was inaugurated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in 2016, KAPSARC's activities are funded in perpetuity by an endowment provided by the Government of Saudi Arabia.

Governance
KAPSARC's Board of Trustees has controlling authority over the center's affairs, policies and governance. Chaired by the Minister of Energy (HRH Prince Abdilaziz Bin Salman Al-Saud), it comprises the president, three international members and three Saudi members. The center is supported by the International Advisory Council (IAC), a group of globally recognized energy thought leaders who advise the center on its ongoing projects.

The IAC meets once a year and consists of members of national, regional and international stature, such as Majid Al-Moneef, Turki Al-Saud, Jin-Yong Cai, Daniel Yergin, Sunita Narain, Richard Newell, Adnan Shihab-Eldin and others.

Campus
The KAPSARC campus on the northern edge of Riyadh contains both a Residential Campus (called the REC, located on the west side) and a Research and Office Complex (called the ROC, on the east side). The 70,000 square meters Research and Office Complex was designed by Zaha Hadid, and supported by Event Communications. Hadid received the commission after a 2009 design competition. It opened in October 2017 and received a LEED Platinum certification. The complex consists of five interlocking buildings, a research center, a computer center, a conference center, a library and the Musalla, a place for prayer.

Research initiatives and publications
In 2019, KAPSARC created four energy-economics products. The products will provide insights and recommendations for energy security, diversify economic resources, and curb climate change. One of its flagship models is called the KAPSARC Energy Model (KEM). In 2019 the center's publications in 10 initiatives – including energy, economy, oil, electricity, transportation, and climate change – rose by 32.5% compared with 2018, from 86 to 114 studies.

The center introduced more than 1250 open-access models and research tools to advance the understanding of energy economics and environment policy pathways.

In 2022, KAPSARC launched the second edition of the Circular Carbon Economy Index, a tool to compare how 64 countries are deploying various methods and technologies to reduce their CO2 emissions.

Launched during the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, the CCE Index covers 90% of the global economy and carbon emissions. The number of countries included in the Index has increased from 30 to 64, compared with the first index that was launched during COP26 in Glasgow.

The newly launched CCE is based on four Rs, namely, reducing, recycling, reusing, and removing..

Awards
Since KAPSARC's inauguration, the center received five awards highlighting the architecture and engineering of the center:


 * LEED Platinum Certified
 * Global Best Project of the Year in the category of education and research buildings, presented by ENR Engineering News-Record
 * World Architecture Community Award
 * Described by New York Times® as Environmental Beauty and Efficiency
 * Saudi Arabia's “Smartest Building” in the Honeywell® smart building award.

KAPSARC and G20
KAPSARC worked alongside the Saudi G20 Secretariat on programs that are associated with the G20 Summit hosted in Riyadh in 2020. The Think 20 (T20) Engagement Group provides research-based policy advice, facilitates interaction and communicates with the broader public on important issues related to the G20 nations that represent 85% of the world's economy and 75% of the global population. KAPSARC represented Saudi Arabia at the T20 summit in Buenos Aires in September 2018 and participated in the T20 inception meeting for 2019 that was held in Tokyo in December 2018.

KAPSARC and T20
KAPSARC and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) held the Think20 (T20) Inception Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 19–20, 2020

The T20 is an engagement group that contributes to the G20 by providing research-based policy recommendations to the G20. The T20 communiqué presents vital policy recommendations developed by T20 Saudi Arabia task forces for consideration by the Leaders of G20 member countries during their summit in Riyadh in November 2020. The Inception Conference convened more than 150 institutions and think tanks, and over 550 attendees from 65 countries, to discuss a range of essential issues covering climate and energy, women and youth, innovation and technology, multilateralism, economic development and finance, food security and access to water.

 KAPSARC is one of the most empowered think tanks in the world 

In 2023, KAPSARC in collaboration with the Saudi Association for Energy Economics (SAEE) organized the 44th International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) annual conference at KAPSARC, Riyadh from February 4-8, 2023. It will be the first time that the IAEE conference will be held in the Middle East.

The conference was held under the theme “Pathways to a Clean, Stable and Sustainable Energy Future.” It aims to provide a platform for experts and specialists to share their knowledge in the field of conventional and renewable energy, environmental challenges and the stability of energy markets.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), inaugurated the 44th International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) Conference, in Riyadh, and also participated in a fireside chat with Daniel Yergin, Vice-Chairman of S&P Global.

In his opening remarks, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud said: “Today, KAPSARC is one of the most empowered think tanks in the world. It has the facilities, the accommodations, the endowments, and the talent to advance the energy industry. I am certain that it will be the incubator of more influential events like the 44th IAEE Conference, which has received record attendance.”

Partners
KAPSARC has the strength of its international ties with more than 24 research institutes, public policy organizations and government institutions worldwide. Its collaborations allow it to further enrich its research output. They include:


 * King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KSA)
 * King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE)
 * Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
 * Ministry of Economy and Planning (KSA)
 * Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (KSA)
 * Saudi Aramco (KSA)
 * Saudi Electricity Company (KSA)
 * Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (KSA)
 * TERI University (India)
 * Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ)
 * The Energy and Resources Institute (India)
 * World Bank
 * Arabian Gulf University (Bahrain)
 * Atlantic Council (United States)
 * Center for Strategic and International Studies (United States)
 * China National Petroleum Corporation – Institute of Economics and Technology
 * China Sustainable Transport Center
 * Derasat (Bahrain)
 * Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (KSA)
 * Energy Research Institute of the NDRC (China)
 * Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (KSA)
 * Imperial College (United Kingdom)
 * Khalifa University of Science and Technology (UAE)

The center has also signed an MOU with SEC, GCCIA and ECRA to develop the future of electricity in the kingdom and optimize electricity trade between GCC and MENA countries.