Renewable Energy Expert National Center for Solar Energy Technology Water and Energy Research Institute
Professor Hussam Khonkar been awarded the Mission Innovation Prize 2019, he received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Solar Thermal) from Reading University, U.K., 1996. He was the first Saudi to get B.Sc. in Engineering of Renewable Energy from Colorado Tech. University, USA 1987. He has been working with KACST since then, he is also Board Members of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy KA Care. , in 1989 Dr. Khonkar worked along in Saudi German HYSOLAR producing hydrogen by solar and Have the educational program as well as 2Kw project at King Abdulaziz University. Moreover, Dr. Khonkar served as the Deputy Director of the Measurement and Instrumentation Center for more than 8 years at KACST and participated on Technical Committee of Saudi Arabia Standard Organization SASO and GCC standard In addition, he has been Adjunct Faculty at the Florida Institute of Technology, USA, and King Saud University, Riyadh. He worked at IBM T.J. Watson research center in New York for four years as researcher international assignee to develop CPV for KACST.
Dr. Khonkar submitted more than 20 patents in Saudi Arabia and internationally he has more the 188 publication and technical reports. He been award a Gold Medal for a patent in April 2007, from 35th International Exhibition of Inventions for New Energy Techniques and Products, in Geneva. He is a member of Scientific Committee in Research Grants Program for Saudi Universities, He is one of the planner largest 10 Megawatt Khafji Solar PV installation for desalination in the world 2019.
The rapid development growth in Saudi Arabia sprouts many economic opportunities, especially in the energy sector. Renewable energy emerged in KSA since the 70s and KACST was the lead player in the region. Since then, KACST has been advancing the national industry and economy through renewable energy research, and made significant contributions to the solar energy field, from households to large utility scales. KACST also has played a critical role of localizing the solar technology in the kingdom that gave rise to PV-panel production line and reliability laboratory in the Solar Village (Al Uyaynah). Many scientific studies and reports have been published, and technologies implementation has been demonstrated. All efforts to accelerate and solve technology challenges are to advance industry. In addition, KACST contributes in the national economy and pursues less CO2 emission for a clean environment.
Renewable Energy Expert National Center for Solar Energy Technology Water and Energy Research Institute