Khalifa University’s RIC2D and UK’s Levidian to Collaborate on UAE’s Decarbonization and Produce High-Quality Graphene
Patented LOOP Technology Helps Decarbonize Hard-to-abate Industries by Capturing Carbon from Methane and Producing Clean Hydrogen
Khalifa University of Science and Technology’s Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D), and leading British climate tech firm Levidian today announced the signing of a pioneering research partnership to help further the UAE's decarbonization efforts by exploring carbon capture from gas flaring and future applications for graphene.
An agreement was signed at Khalifa University Main Campus in Abu Dhabi by His Excellency Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University, and by John Hartley, Chief Executive Officer, Levidian. Professor Hassan Arafat, Senior Director, RIC2D, senior officials, and representatives from Khalifa University and Levidian were present at the ceremony.
According to the agreement, the two partners will work together to explore the effectiveness of Levidian’s patented LOOP technology in capturing carbon from different gas types, including flare gas from oil and gas facilities. Khalifa University's RIC2D will then spearhead research into the applications of graphene produced as part of the process, which also creates clean hydrogen.
Prof. Hassan Arafat, Senior Director, RIC2D at Khalifa University, said: “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Levidian and leverage their innovative LOOP technology to contribute to the UAE’s decarbonization efforts. This collaboration will enable the RIC2D team to continue to spearhead research into the applications of graphene produced as part of the process, also creating clean hydrogen. By driving scientific development, this collaboration has all the hallmarks of successfully driving innovation in graphene and 2D materials as well as facilitating commercialization.”
John Hartley, CEO of Levidian, said: “The UAE has an incredible opportunity not only to drive down emissions from its oil and gas operations but, in doing so, create two high value products that are going to change the face of the future energy landscape – hydrogen as a critical future fuel, and graphene as a powerful additive to batteries for EVs and to store excess power produced by wind and solar projects. The possibilities are genuinely endless, and we are delighted to be working with Khalifa University as the region’s leading academic institution as we continue to drive forward our technology and get more LOOPs out into the field.”
Khalifa University’s RIC2D has entered into multiple partnerships to further drive innovation identifying opportunities in advanced materials innovation. It also seeks to combine expertise, resources, and research capabilities towards accelerating the development and commercialization of graphene-based technologies. It collaborates with stakeholders in organizing symposiums to explore the transformative potential of 2D materials.
Levidian announced earlier this year plans to invest around US$100m in the UAE as part of the establishment of a new delivery center, that will serve as a showcase and central hub for the business in the Middle East. The center is expected to create around 100 highly skilled professional and manufacturing roles as well as a further 150 indirect jobs.
Levidian provides a unique service that helps hard-to-abate sectors to unlock critical decarbonization projects by capturing the carbon from methane gas and turning it into high value graphene and hydrogen.
The graphene produced is ‘net zero’, with the potential to be carbon negative depending on the make-up of the local grid and can be used to both drive process efficiencies and enhance the intrinsic characteristics of products in major global industries as far ranging as steel, batteries and petrochemicals. The hydrogen can be produced at varying levels of purity to be injected into the gas grid, used as a lower carbon fuel for on-site energy generation or as pure hydrogen suitable for hydrogen fuel cell EVs.
About the Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D):
Established in 2022 at Khalifa University of Science and Technology, RIC2D is part of a strategic investment by the Government of Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, to advance the scientific development and commercial deployment of technologies derived from graphene and other 2D materials. RIC2D serves as an integral part of an advanced materials innovation ecosystem being developed in Abu Dhabi.
About Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the UAE’s top-ranked research-intensive institution, focuses on developing world leaders and critical thinkers in science, engineering and health science. The world-class university endeavors to be a catalyst to the growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s rapidly developing knowledge economy as an education destination of choice and a global leader among widely acknowledged international universities.