Following KAPSARC’s Energy Systems Modeling Workshop in Washington DC during October 2013, the Center hosted its second Energy Systems Modeling Workshop in Riyadh on March 18-19, 2014. The emphasis of this workshop was on modeling and measuring the effects of government interventions in the micro-economy.

The workshop participants included policy modelers and policy makers worldwide and from the region, including the Electricity and Co-Generation Regulatory Authority (ECRA), Saudi Aramco, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Johns Hopkins University, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Energy Information Administration (EIA), World Bank, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), RBAC, and KanORS-EMR. KAPSARC presented its own energy model.

In addition, there was active participation by private consultants, and international and GCC senior officials and thought leaders, from entities such as the Ministry of Economy and Planning for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Saline Water Conversion Company (SWCC) and the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR). Experts also attended from other major universities in the US, and from Italy, in addition to faculties from Saudi Universities.

The workshop provided an opportunity to bring together researchers, government leaders and members from the private sector to share and discuss ideas on improving regulation and laying the groundwork for more efficient energy economies.