Saudi Students from KFUPM Win Inaugural 'White Gold Rush' Natural Hydrogen Competition

KFUPM Students Triumph in Natural Hydrogen Challenge

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia – Students from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) have emerged victorious in the inaugural 'White Gold Rush' competition, a significant event focused on advancing natural hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. The final stage of the competition took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Dhahran, where KFUPM teams showcased their expertise against participants from Canada's University of Waterloo.

The winning KFUPM team, named HydroNova, comprised talented students Shahad Darwish, Ayah Alaradi, Linah Alhussain, and Fatimah Alibrahim. Their success underscores Saudi Arabia's growing commitment to renewable energy research and development.

Exploring the 'New White Gold'

The 'White Gold Rush' competition, also referred to as 'The New White Gold Rush' and 'Natural Hydrogen Competition,' challenged undergraduate students to delve into the complexities of natural hydrogen. Participants were tasked with examining how hydrogen is produced, migrates, and accumulates underground, and subsequently developing a framework for hydrogen systems modeled on the petroleum system.

Natural hydrogen is increasingly being recognized as the 'new white gold' due to its potential as a low-carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The competition required teams to present research across six critical themes:

• Source and Origin
• Migration and Accumulation
• Exploration and Drilling
• Extraction and Transportation
• Sustainability and Impact
• Economic Feasibility

Professor Khalid Al-Ramadan, who teaches geology and heads the Geosciences Department at KFUPM, oversaw the competition. He emphasized the importance of empowering students at early stages of their studies to think about renewable energy, stating, 'It would be nice for our students, specifically undergraduate bachelor students, to work on something that is tangible, that is relevant to our nation, to the energy industry.'

A Collaborative and Competitive Endeavor

The competition was a joint effort, hosted by KFUPM's College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences (CPG) and organized in collaboration with KFUPM's Global Engagement Office. It marked a new milestone in the partnership between KFUPM and the University of Waterloo.

In the final standings, KFUPM teams secured first, third, and fourth places, demonstrating their strong performance. Teams from the University of Waterloo earned second, fifth, and sixth places. Dr. Ali Alyousef, Dean of the CPG, highlighted the broader context of the program during the awards ceremony, noting that the Kingdom is investing heavily in clean, affordable, and sustainable energy sources as part of its Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia's Vision for a Hydrogen Future

The success of KFUPM students in this competition aligns with Saudi Arabia's ambitious national strategy to become a global leader in hydrogen production. The Kingdom is actively pursuing both green and natural hydrogen initiatives, with significant projects like the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) aiming to produce large quantities of green hydrogen daily.

This focus on hydrogen is a key component of Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on oil, transitioning towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy landscape.