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 was honored with 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‘ recognizing its influential role in producing impactful research that shapes public discourse on critical energy-related issues. Furthermore, Axel Pierru, Acting Vice President of Knowledge and Analysis, accepted the ‘OPEC Award for the Best Energy Research Paper‘ on behalf of his co-authors Hossa Almutairi and James Smith, for their novel research on oil market stability. These awards mark the first time that OPEC has bestowed such honors.
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..