The IRC-SES-EPG at the KFUPM would provide an academic hub for the interdisciplinary study of energy policy and place sustainability and change at the heart of debates about energy policy and governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). IRC-SES-EPG will work collaboratively with stakeholders and researchers on the economics and politics of energy to find new and innovative approaches for enabling the transition to a low carbon, sustainable and affordable energy system in KSA.

IRC-SES-EPG will focuses on applied energy policy research and practice change, within the KSA and internationally, to inform industry, policy makers and wider society. IRC-SES-EPG will cover the:

• Energy demand side (such as the psychology and sociology of behavior and energy use, demand response, and demand reduction);
• Energy supply side (including renewables and fossil fuels);
• Energy system operation and integration (including infrastructure, networks, smart grids, markets, rules, regulations, and institutions) as well as cross-cutting issues such as technology change, economics, innovation, governance, policy, politics and supply chains. Key current research themes include: future directions for energy policy and governance;
• Roles of social and technical change;
• Interface between people and technology;
• How politics, rules and regulations can and could shape the energy system;
• Balancing affordability alongside carbon management and security.

Objectives:

• The IRC-SES-EPG at the KFUPM would provide an academic hub for the interdisciplinary study of energy policy.
• IRC-SES-EPG place sustainability and change at the heart of debates about energy policy and governance in KSA.
• IRC-SES-EPG will work collaboratively with stakeholders and researchers on the economics and politics of energy to find new and innovative approaches for enabling the transition to a low carbon, sustainable and affordable energy system in KSA. 

Services providing to the industrial /external clients:

• Renewable energy policy assessment
• Designing efficient renewable electricity support schemes for KSA in view of Vision2030.
• Role of renewable energy polices in successful development and deployment of renewable energy technologies in KSA and its impact on RE market (investment, jobs and environmental).
• Social acceptability of renewable energy technologies in KSA.