Lower-Carbon Energy Solutions: Aramco Signs MoUs With Three US Companies

Saudi Arabian Oil Company Aramco has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent US companies to advance the development of potential lower-carbon energy solutions. The MoUs signed by the state-owned oil giant included agreements with Aeroseal, Spiritus, and Rondo. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al Saud, and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. 

As part of the MoU, Aramco and Aeroseal agreed to explore opportunities to accelerate the deployment of Aeroseal’s technology in the company’s building fleet and commercialise the technology in novel applications such as gas pipelines. The agreement also aims to localize Aeroseal’s supply chain in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Spiritus and Aramco agreed to explore opportunities in the field of direct air capture. Aramco mentioned in its statement that Spiritus’ novel approach to direct air capture could address the major cost challenges of current direct air capture approaches and includes reducing energy needs, passive air collection, and a proprietary sorbent material to potentially remove carbon from the atmosphere. 

At the same time, Aramco and Rondo agreed to explore the deployment of heat batteries in Aramco’s global facilities. This is to reduce operating costs and support emissions reduction initiatives. "Innovative technologies deployed at scale can help reduce the costs of reducing carbon emissions, and we are investing in developing these through our R&D, venture capital, and technology deployment programs," said Ali A. Al-Meshari, senior vice president of technology, oversight and coordination at Aramco.