Sabic is a Saudi Arabian chemical and metal group and is one of the leading materials and petrochemical producers in the Middle East. As part of the GatewayKSA excursion, Sabic has opened its doors to international students to take a closer and first-hand look at individual developments. Although it is actually a petrochemical company, Sabic focuses on the energy revolution. Besides a technology for floated-solar-panels the House of Innovations is also a big topic.

In the research department in Riyadh, we learned that with 16 tons of CO2 emissions per person, Saudi Arabia is in the negative country list of CO2 emissions per capita. We have learned that, in addition to transport, the majority of emissions are caused by households. The Business Development Specialist Mr. Al-Hashirm gave us an impressive opportunity to save CO2 in the long run with simple but costly means. This is the so-called House of Innovation, which is completely made of patented materials from Sabic. The house uses technologies for net-zero energy consumption, water conversation and environmentally responsible building materials. In order to realize this and to enable the main energy supply, solar energy was used. The entire house is equipped with a 28.8 kW solar PV system from the outside. In order to reduce unnecessary energy loss in heating and lighting, special materials have been chosen in their architecture and construction so that insulation is in the foreground. Special attention was paid to insulation through the walls and insulation through the windows. For this purpose, technically high-quality materials were used, such as solar panels of type E26 from SunPower. What is particularly astonishing here is the realisation of an environmentally friendly living option without risking the comfort and prosperity of the individual customers and the citizens of Saudi Arabia. For me personally, the House of Innovation was by far the most modern and pompous house I have ever seen. The entire residential construction seems to combine luxury and climate protection and to counteract a climate catastrophe with its use. But unfortunately only if you belong to the upper class of society. With a purchase price three times higher than that of normal houses in affluent areas of the kingdom, the House of Innovations is a costly residential alternative that probably cannot be found everywhere with this proud purchase price. Therefore, at first glance it seems to be a climate-friendly luxury house for the Vitrine. At this point it was again made clear that it is a privilege of the rich households of the kingdom. Thus this kind of environmental protection can probably only be practiced in the smallest households. Whether it has then at all a use, or only around a pollution free house with many technologically unnecessary toys concerns, must show up in the future. Nevertheless this house offers a possibility to have an environmentally conscious way of life, which is unique in its kind worldwide. I thank Sabic for the exciting tour through his facility and look curiously at the future of the House of Innovation.

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My name is Bassam Tabibi, I am 21 years old and have completed my Bachelor in Electrical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. I was born and raised in Germany and every contact I had there with Saudi Arabia was negatively influenced. In television, media etc. Saudi Arabia is the country with extremist Islam, pure desert landscape and oil deposits. When I came across the GatewayKSA, I was able to gain first-hand experience. In addition, possible job options were an additional incentive for my application.