In early summer 2024, the “Low-carbon Transportation and New Energy Systems” research group at the School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology (referred to as TRANS Research Group), officially signed a research and development agreement titled “Development Agreement Between SAUDI ARAMCO TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY and SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY” with Saudi Aramco Technologies Company. This project, led by Professor Shiqi Ou, the head of TRANSLAB, will conduct a three-year collaborative research on the “Competitive Analysis of Fuel Economy and Power System Electrification in Major World Markets” with a total project budget of $450,000.
✨ New Collaborative Project Focus on Energy Transformation in Transportation
This project will focus deeply on the following research directions:
- Evaluation of the economic viability of alternative fuel technologies in road, marine, and aviation sectors.
- Competitive analysis of power system electrification technologies and market dynamics.
- Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions in various transportation sectors under typical scenarios.
The project is rooted in the economic analysis of alternative fuels and the competitive analysis of power system electrification in major global markets (China, the United States, Europe). The research will cover the road, marine, and aviation sectors, considering consumer acceptance, infrastructure, technological innovation, and supply chain constraints. By providing typical scenario calibrations for emissions in each transport sector, the project aims to promote low-carbon transportation and sustainable development.
✨ Background of Previous Collaboration
Saudi Aramco is a global integrated petrochemical company with operations spanning the Middle East, Europe, East Asia, North America, and South America. Saudi Aramco is dedicated to utilizing specialized scientific knowledge, strengthening cooperation with experts worldwide, and enhancing transport efficiency and emissions reduction through optimizing power system technologies and fuel characteristics. Saudi Aramco is actively exploring the prospects of alternative fuels and mobility technologies, which can not only compete with traditional engines and fuel systems but also drive their improvement. In March 2023, Saudi Aramco signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with the Guangdong Provincial Government to further deepen cooperation in Guangdong. This memorandum provides a framework for investment opportunities in multiple fields, covering energy cooperation, research and innovation, industrial projects, financial cooperation, and talent exchange.
Professor Shiqi Ou, the head of the TRANS Research Group, served as the Chief Scientist for the “Automotive Engine and Fuels Research with Aramco Research Center Detroit” project sponsored by Aramco U.S. Company from 2015 to 2021, with a project budget of $3.6 million. During this period, Professor Ou conducted a series of in-depth research on energy efficiency simulation in transportation systems, alternative fuel system analysis, optimization of energy infrastructure, transportation electrification, new transport tools, and economic decision analysis based on these technologies. He collaborated on over 30 SCI papers, with related results published in authoritative journals in the energy field such as “Nature Energy,” “Nature Communications,” and “Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.” One of the collaborative papers published in “Nature Energy” made it to the journal cover, receiving significant attention. The research results have been widely adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy, renowned academic institutions, and enterprises, and have been extensively covered by the media. (Source: https://www.nature.com/nenergy/volumes/5/issues/9)
The TRANSLAB, under the leadership of Professor Shiqi Ou, will closely collaborate with Saudi Aramco to ensure the high-quality completion of the research tasks.
In the future, the TRANS Research Group will continue to drive the transformation of the transportation energy field with an open, collaborative, and innovative approach. Stay tuned for more breakthrough achievements!