Dr. Daniel Bahamon Garcia,
Senior Research Scientist
The Research Institutes represent the core of Khalifa University’s research framework, serving as interdisciplinary hubs that bridge the gap between academic discovery and real-world application. By centralizing expertise and infrastructure, these institutes transcend traditional departmental boundaries to tackle complex global challenges and ensure direct alignment with the UAE’s national vision.
Energy transition is one of the greatest challenges our generation faces. How do we increase the energy supply the world needs in an affordable, secure and sustainable manner? To address this challenge, the Energy Institute advances Khalifa University’s strategic research vision by fostering application-driven innovation, technology development, and commercialization across the full energy transition spectrum. It emphasizes applied research that increases technology readiness, encourages industry co-investment, and enables validation in operational settings. In addition to scientific dissemination, the Institute supports benchmarking, pilot demonstrations, and intellectual property development to translate research into deployable technologies, scalable solutions, and lasting economic and industrial value.
The vision of the Energy Institute at Khalifa University is to lead the regional and global energy transition through pioneering research and education, transformative technologies, and strategic innovation delivered to the market, empowering the UAE and the world toward a resilient, net-zero future.
The mission of the Energy Institute is to advance cutting-edge research, innovation and technology development providing solutions across the full energy transition spectrum — renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon management, sustainable fuels, and smart power systems. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and strategic partnerships, the Institute supports the UAE’s transition to a knowledge-based, sustainable economy and contributes to global climate and energy solutions, in alignment with the Net Zero strategy.
Senior Director of Khalifa University Energy Institute
Prof. Lourdes F. Vega is a Full Professor in Chemical Engineering, and Director and Founder of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH Center), focused on clean energy, decarbonization (CCUS), hydrogen and sustainable fuels, at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist
Senior Research Scientist
To support the UAE strategy and the global goals towards reducing global emissions, the Energy Institute at Khalifa University engages comprehensively with the energy transition landscape, advancing existing technologies, overcoming integration challenges, and pursuing paradigm-shifting breakthroughs to accelerate progress. Its scope covers the full value chain of the energy landscape, beginning with primary energy sources such as renewables, nuclear and bioenergy, progressing through enabling technologies including storage, fuels, and hydrogen, advancing to system-level integration and decarbonization tools such as grids, CCUS, nexus approaches, energy efficiency, sustainable cooling and smart cities, and culminating with cross-cutting enablers such as environmental and economics assessments and policy design. It has clear performance targets and outcomes. The four research pillars of the EI, covering the full value chain of energy transition, are shown in the next figure, highlighting the current and emerging areas of focus, and how they support the UAE and global goals on decarbonization.
grids, CCUS, nexus approaches, energy efficiency, sustainable cooling and smart cities, and culminating with cross-cutting enablers such as environmental and economics assessments and policy design. It has clear performance targets and outcomes. The four research pillars of the EI, covering the full value chain of energy transition, are shown in the next figure, highlighting the current and emerging areas of focus, and how they support the UAE and global goals on decarbonization.
The Strategic Pillars that guide the institute are:
Unify complementary expertise across energy transition technologies to enable cross-disciplinary breakthroughs with active end-user collaboration.
Position the UAE as a global model for low-carbon energy systems, with scalable solutions tailored to arid and resource-rich regions.
Bridge cutting-edge research with policy and industry implementation, shaping national and international energy strategies.
Cultivate the next generation of energy leaders through education, training, and global collaboration.
Serve as a hub for international cooperation, attracting top researchers, institutions, industry and investors to co-create the future of energy.
Professor Lourdes Vega, Senior Director of the Energy Institute, and a member of the International Organizing Committee, is participating at the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC2026, https://ehec.info/), held in Sevilla from March 11-13, 2026
READ MORE
Professor Lourdes Vega, Senior Director of the Energy Institute, and a member of the International Organizing Committee, is participating at the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC2026, https://ehec.info/), held in Sevilla from March 11-13, 2026
READ MORE
Professor Lourdes Vega, Senior Director of the Energy Institute, and a member of the International Organizing Committee, is participating at the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC2026, https://ehec.info/), held in Sevilla from March 11-13, 2026
READ MORE
Deasyl, a technology provider at the forefront of green chemical innovation, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional polluting processes. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating in Masdar City for the UAE and MENA, it specializes in identifying, developing, and in-licensing novel chemistry for key players in the petrochemical and fine chemical sectors. The Energy Institute collaborates with Deasyl on the production of sustainable fuels and derivatives.
Deasyl, a technology provider at the forefront of green chemical innovation, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional polluting processes. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating in Masdar City for the UAE and MENA, it specializes in identifying, developing, and in-licensing novel chemistry for key players in the petrochemical and fine chemical sectors. The Energy Institute collaborates with Deasyl on the production of sustainable fuels and derivatives.
Deasyl, a technology provider at the forefront of green chemical innovation, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional polluting processes. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operating in Masdar City for the UAE and MENA, it specializes in identifying, developing, and in-licensing novel chemistry for key players in the petrochemical and fine chemical sectors. The Energy Institute collaborates with Deasyl on the production of sustainable fuels and derivatives.