Are There Adequate Materials and Land Resources for the Saudi Power Sector to Achieve Net Zero by 2060?

Analyst- Utilities & Renewables Khalid is an analyst in the Utilities and Renewables program at KAPSARC. He is an electrical power and machines engineer…

Khalid is an analyst in the Utilities and Renewables program at KAPSARC. He is an electrical power and machines engineer with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering at King Abdulaziz University. His work at KAPSARC has focused on renewables, energy modeling, and the electric power systems field.

Expertise

• Energy Modeling
• Electric Power Systems
• Renewable Energy

Senior Fellow- Utilities & Renewables Marie is a Senior Fellow in the Utilities & Renewables Department. Since she joined KAPSARC in 2021, her research has…

Marie is a Senior Fellow in the Utilities & Renewables Department. Since she joined KAPSARC in 2021, her research has focused on power system modeling (KAPSARC Power Model), market designs for energy transitions, and framework analysis for reliable and resilient power systems.

Prior to joining KAPSARC, Marie worked as a Research Engineer within the Research and Development (R&D) unit of the utility group EDF in Paris, France. During her EDF journey, she worked on long-term and short-term electricity market design, the transmission grid at the European scale, and smart-charging opportunities for electric vehicles. Marie also worked as a researcher within the Market Department of the French Transmission System Operator RTE.

Marie holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Dauphine University, PSL (France), an M.Sc. in Environmental and Energy Economics from Ecole des Ponts ParisTech (France), and a M.Sc. in Engineering from ENSTA Institut Polytechnique de Paris (France).

Expertise

• Electricity Markets
• Power System Modeling
• Electricity Market Design and Regulation
• Energy Transition
• Energy and Climate Policy

Associate- Utilities & Renewables Sarah Abuouf is an Associate in the Utilities and Renewables Department at KAPSARC, following her experience as a member of…

Sarah Abuouf is an Associate in the Utilities and Renewables Department at KAPSARC, following her experience as a member of KAPSARC’s Graduate Development Program. She holds a master’s degree in Engineering: Sustainable and Renewable Energy from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, along with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from King Abdulaziz University.

Expertise

• Renewable energy
• Electricity markets
• Energy transition

Fellow- Energy Macro & Microeconomics Abdulelah is an Economist and Research Fellow at KAPSARC with expertise in various fields, including macroeconomics, energy, international trade and…

Abdulelah is an Economist and Research Fellow at KAPSARC with expertise in various fields, including macroeconomics, energy, international trade and investment flows, financial development, and public policy. He currently leads the project, “Applying Behavioral Economics Methods to Energy Policymaking in Saudi Arabia," which led to the first randomized controlled trial for electricity consumption. Additionally, he is a contributor on other projects, such as the “KAPSARC Vision 2030 Input-Output Tables”, “Economic Growth and Energy Transition Pathways”, “CGE Model for Economic Policy Analysis in Saudi Arabia”, and “Modeling Energy Consumption and its Impact in Saudi Arabia.” His work has been published in top-tier peer-reviewed journals in the field of energy economics.

As a passionate advocate for evidence-based policymaking, Abdulelah is committed to using his expertise to help shape the future of energy and economic policy in Saudi Arabia and beyond, having worked on many projects for the energy ecosystem. He is also a sought-after speaker and panelist on economic and energy policy, having participated in several high-profile events and discussions. In 2020, during the Saudi G20 presidency, he was a member, co-author, and task force coordinator for the Trade, Investment, and Growth Taskforce for Think20 (T20), the official Engagement Group of the G20.

Before joining KAPSARC, Abdulelah worked as an economic consultant, providing policy analyses, modeling, and forecasting the impacts of public spending on social and economic indicators. He obtained a master’s degree in Applied Economics and a bachelor’s degree with Honors in Banking and Financial Economics. He received the King Abdullah Scholarship and is a member of the Saudi Economic Association and the Saudi Association for Energy Economics. He has also been inducted into the ISPI’s Next Forum of Future Leaders.

Expertise

• Macroeconomics
• Energy Economics
• Economic Growth
• International Trade and Investment
• Financial Development
• Energy Demand and Public Policy
• Econometrics
• Energy Transition and its Impact on the Global Economy

Senior Research Fellow- Utilities & Renewables Dr. Timothy Laing is an environment, natural resource, and development economist, and he is a Senior Research Fellow at KAPSARC,…

Dr. Timothy Laing is an environment, natural resource, and development economist, and he is a Senior Research Fellow at KAPSARC, focusing on Critical Minerals. He has held academic positions at the University of Brighton, the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of West Indies. He has worked as an independent consultant for clients such as the World Bank, Climate Strategies, the International Council on Mining and Metals, and Conservation International on a variety of projects relating to mining policy, carbon markets, the EU ETS, and REDD+. He has published academic papers and reports on subjects including critical minerals, natural resource management, small- and large-scale mining, the EU ETS, international carbon market mechanisms, and REDD+. He obtained his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and he holds an M.A. in Development Economics from the University of Sussex and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Nottingham.

Expertise

• Critical Minerals
• Mining Industry
• Carbon Markets

Visiting Researcher- Utilities & Renewables Frank is an engineer, energy policy analyst, and was a visiting researcher at KAPSARC. Prior to joining KAPSARC, Frank was…

Frank is an engineer, energy policy analyst, and was a visiting researcher at KAPSARC. Prior to joining KAPSARC, Frank was a Research Professor at the School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, Director of the Rutgers Energy Institute, and Director of the Center for Energy, Economics and Environmental Policy. In those roles, he conducted original and applied research in the areas of electric power system modeling, clean energy policies, and climate change for academic foundations, government agencies, and energy utilities. He has also worked as an economic consultant and nuclear engineer.

Executive Director- Utilities & Renewables Dr. Elshurafa is the Executive Director of the Utilities and Renewables Department and possesses 20+ years of experience garnered on…

Dr. Elshurafa is the Executive Director of the Utilities and Renewables Department and possesses 20+ years of experience garnered on three continents. His research interests lie in renewable energy policy, electricity market design and regulation, and power systems modeling. He has led and executed several national modeling initiatives at distributed and utility scales. Some aspects of his research have been adopted by BP in their seminal annual Statistical Review. He is listed among the top 2% scientists globally as per Stanford, and he is a board member of the Saudi Water and Electricity Regulatory Authority. Credited with 50+ papers and patents, he holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and an MBA in Finance.

Expertise

• Renewable Energy Policy
• Electricity Market Design and Regulation
• Power Sector Modeling