King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), through its KAUST Academy, is helping develop the technical expertise needed to support Saudi Arabia’s growing artificial intelligence and data center ambitions.  

Delivered in collaboration with Vista Equity Partners, a leading global technology investor, and Energy Exemplar, a Vista portfolio company specializing in energy market simulation software, KAUST Academy’s intensive summer program provided participants with hands-on training, industry-standard tools, and technical mentorship in energy systems modeling.  

Continued AI growth requires both computing capacity and reliable energy infrastructure. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the KAUST Academy program helps develop national expertise in energy systems planning, from assessing where data centers connect to the electricity grid to aligning infrastructure investments with rising demand.  

As Saudi Arabia expands its energy infrastructure, students applied their new skills to develop long-term planning models addressing the Kingdom’s evolving energy requirements.  

“Partnerships like this one give our students the chance to work with the same professional tools used by the global energy industry, and to apply them to questions that matter to the Kingdom,” said KAUST Professor Naeemullah Khan, instructional associate professor and deputy director of KAUST Academy. “Working with Vista and Energy Exemplar has shown what young Saudi talent can achieve when given real-world problems and expert guidance.”  

Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, said the collaboration is helping equip Saudi engineers to plan the power systems needed to support the Kingdom’s energy and AI ambitions. “Planning that infrastructure requires both talent and capital.”  

Developing Saudi expertise will help turn the Kingdom’s vision into well-informed infrastructure investments, added David Wilson, CEO of Energy Exemplar. “Saudi Arabia is meeting the energy demands of AI head on, with careful planning for reliable, affordable power at scale.”  

The program began in July 2026 with a week of full-day, in-person training at KAUST. Student teams selected projects addressing challenges in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector, including system adequacy assessment, pumped hydro storage, renewable energy and battery storage valuation, demand-side management, data center siting, security of supply, and the potential impact of the total solar eclipse expected in August 2027.  

Participants used PLEXOS, Energy Exemplar’s energy systems modeling and simulation software, to develop long-term planning models and answer questions of national relevance.  

One team developed a six-region model of the Saudi electricity grid to assess potential locations for large-scale data centers, evaluating transmission congestion, generation costs, and emissions across operating areas. Other projects examined how carbon pricing could influence long-term capacity expansion through 2050 and whether hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup would place additional demands on the national power system.  

These applications reflect the work that energy planners, regulators, and energy companies carry out worldwide, providing students with practical experience in addressing complex infrastructure challenges. The summer program demonstrates KAUST’s commitment to developing national talent and collaborating with global industry partners to advance expertise in energy, technology, and advanced analytics.