13 April, 2025
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is forging a close partnership with industry leader Aramco to develop extreme temperature-resilient batteries designed for subsurface applications and the intense heat of Saudi Arabia, as well as cooler and even frigid shelf conditions — a revolutionary advancement in the realm of “hot” batteries catering to diverse operational conditions.
“Together, we’re poised to overcome the most pressing technological hurdles facing the energy industry,” said Dr. Muhammad Arsalan, lead of the Advanced Sensing and Robotics team at Aramco’s Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC). He added that Aramco’s ingrained operational expertise complements KAUST's cutting-edge research capabilities.
Professor Husam Alshareef, Chair of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) and KAUST's principal investigator for the project on “Batteries for Hot Environments,” said his Center is proud to work with Aramco on addressing critical downhole and environmental issues. “The key challenge lies in identifying electrolytes and separators that can endure high temperatures,” he noted, highlighting the innovative work ahead.