Muscat: The Sustainable Energy Research Centre Laboratory at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) was opened on Sunday in a step that enhances integration between scientific research, innovation, and national capacity building.
The opening was held under the auspices of Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
The opening of the Sustainable Energy Research Centre Laboratory comes as a fruit of the strategic partnership between Sultan Qaboos University and Oxy Oman, with a total investment of nearly OMR1.5 million across an area of approximately 774 square meters.
It constitutes a qualitative addition to the national research infrastructure and an integrated platform for developing innovative technologies and solutions in sustainable energy fields, strengthening research and technical capabilities, and supporting cooperation between academic and industrial institutions.
The laboratory comprises a set of specialised research units, including alternative fuels, energy materials, energy efficiency, thermal energy, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, a smart grids and renewable energy systems modeling and simulation laboratory, and a dedicated studio for training and capacity building, allowing scientific research to be utilized in developing practical solutions that support sector efficiency and sustainability.
In a related context, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, represented by Oman Sustainability Centre, and Sultan Qaboos University signed an agreement to execute the second edition of the “Kafa’a” (Efficiency) training program for a duration of three years.
The agreement was signed by Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and HH Sayyid Dr. Fahad Al Julanda Al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University. It aims to expand the scope of specialised professional qualification in energy efficiency and connect training outputs with practical application, entrepreneurship, and market needs.
The agreement aims to train and qualify 275 participants in energy auditing and 20 participants in measurement and verification, as well as incubate at least three national teams—each consisting of four members—and support them to develop solutions and services and establish startups specialized in energy efficiency. This contributes to building a national base of professional expertise, developing a local market for specialised services, and creating new economic and job opportunities.
The Minister of Energy and Minerals, emphasized that investing in scientific research, innovation, and national capacity building represents a strategic pillar for developing the energy sector and enhancing its competitiveness and sustainability.
He pointed out the importance of integrating efforts among government, academic, and private sector institutions in developing innovative technologies and solutions, as well as building national capabilities capable of deploying them to develop the sector and keep pace with its future transformations.
Al Aufi explained that the opening of the Sustainable Energy Research Centre Laboratory and the renewal of the “Kafa’a” training program agreement reflect this orientation by connecting scientific research with practical application, as well as qualifying Omani talents and empowering them to utilize scientific research outputs and specialised knowledge in creating new investment and economic opportunities.
This enhances entrepreneurship and local content (in-country value), while contributing to raising energy consumption efficiency and reducing emissions in support of the targets of Oman Vision 2040 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Prof. Amer Saif Al Hinai, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research at Sultan Qaboos University, said that the official launch of the Sustainable Energy Research Centre Laboratory at the university represents a pivotal step in the ongoing cooperation between the university and various national sectors.
He added that it serves as a true embodiment of active partnership in supporting scientific research and innovation and qualifying national talents to serve the strategic directions and priorities of the Sultanate of Oman in vital sectors, foremost of which is the energy sector.
He explained that the opening of the laboratory at the university’s Sustainable Energy Research Centre, established with an investment of nearly OMR1.5 million and co-funded by the university and Oxy Oman, comes as an extension of the centre’s efforts since its establishment in 2017.
The centre has executed around 61 research projects and attracted research funding of approximately OMR2.39 million, to which industry and external entities contributed about OMR1.95 million, reflecting the importance of partnerships with the industrial sector in supporting scientific research and developing solutions relevant to sector needs. Furthermore, the total scientific publications of the centre reached nearly 100 research papers indexed in the Scopus database, receiving over 2,100 scientific citations, in addition to its contribution to qualifying more than 300 individuals in various energy fields.
He affirmed that the laboratory is expected to contribute to enhancing these efforts by providing a research and training environment that allows researchers and trainees to benefit from specialised equipment and technologies and develop their scientific and practical skills, supporting the transfer of knowledge into practical applications that serve sector needs.
The agreement to execute the second edition of the “Kafa’a” training program, signed between the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, represented by the Oman Sustainability Centre, and Sultan Qaboos University, continues efforts to qualify national talents in energy efficiency. The agreement targets training 275 participants in energy auditing, 20 participants in measurement and verification, and incubating at least three national teams and supporting them in developing specialised solutions and establishing startups in this field.
He added that the laboratory seeks to reflect the university’s keenness to continue harnessing its research capabilities and academic expertise in supporting effective national partnerships, as well as developing innovative solutions that respond to the needs of vital sectors and contribute to achieving the targets of Oman Vision 2040 and reinforcing paths of sustainability and net zero.
For his part, Eng. Mohsin Al Jabri, Director General of the Oman Sustainability Centre, explained that expanding energy efficiency projects requires building a national base of specialized expertise and services, and that the “Kafa’a” programme supports this direction by linking qualification with execution needs and enhancing the ability of Omani talents to provide economically viable solutions with measurable impact in reducing consumption and emissions.
He added that renewing the partnership with Sultan Qaboos University solidifies the continuity of this path and supports the development of a national sector for energy efficiency services, enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s ability to execute its targets and capitalise on associated economic opportunities.
The renewal of the “Kafa’a” program agreement builds on the results achieved in its first edition, which lasted six training weeks with the participation of 50 male and female trainees. It covered the fundamentals of energy auditing, field application, and qualification for the Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) examination awarded by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), where 38 participants obtained the certification, representing a success rate of 76 percent of total participants.
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The second edition includes the execution of specialized training programs according to a curriculum combining theoretical knowledge and practical application, starting from fundamental concepts and professional standards for energy auditing, through field training, consumption data analysis, and system and equipment performance evaluation, up to qualifying participants to obtain certified professional credentials after fulfilling their requirements.
The program includes qualification in the Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) domain to develop participants’ skills in measuring and verifying energy savings and evaluating the results of efficiency improvement projects according to accredited professional standards, alongside a program to incubate national teams, provide technical and commercial guidance, and support the development of business models and innovative solutions, enabling them to establish startups specialized in energy efficiency services.
The opening of the laboratory and the renewal of the “Kafa’a” program agreement embody a model of integration among scientific research, professional qualification, and entrepreneurship by strengthening partnerships between academic and government institutions and sector companies, and deploying modern knowledge and technologies in building specialized national capabilities and developing investment and economic opportunities to support national economic diversification and achieve the targets of Oman Vision 2040 and net zero by 2050.
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