Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy has opened submissions for its inaugural Energy Hackathon, “Ignite Your Ideas,” aimed at developing innovative solutions to key energy-sector challenges.

Held under the patronage of Energy and Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the event will take place at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh from October 7–9, 2026.

The hackathon precedes the 25th WPC Energy Congress, which Saudi Arabia will host in Riyadh from October 11–15, reinforcing the Kingdom’s focus on energy innovation and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Participants will tackle six challenges across three tracks: Operational Efficiency, Transformative Innovation and Intelligent Control. Topics include improving oil and gas facility inspections, maintaining grid stability amid rising renewable generation, designing smart fuel stations, developing hydrogen storage, predicting grid failures and optimizing electricity loads.

Industry experts will provide workshops and mentoring before participants develop prototypes for assessment by a judging panel. Selected projects will also receive entrepreneurial support to help advance their solutions beyond the prototype stage.

Registration opened on August 19 and will close on September 16, 2026. Winners will be recognized during the hackathon’s closing ceremony at the WPC Energy Congress. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service