António Azevedo Campos

António Azevedo Campos, Co-Founder & CEO of Hub2Energy, talks to TBY about creating synergies and positioning the firm across the entire energy value chain.

Can you elaborate on Hub2Energy’s initial vision and the key factors that influenced its founding in Kuwait?

Hub2Energy was founded with the aim of transforming traditional energy practices into innovative, sustainable solutions in Kuwait. Our vision is to create a platform that not only embraces Kuwait’s well-known oil and gas resources, but also propels the nation toward a leadership role in clean energy. We are dedicated to efficiency, sustainability and promoting cleaner usage across the board, but always considering an all-energies approach rather than focusing solely on renewables. We’ve started partnerships that include new companies, established businesses, research groups, and government bodies to make sure new ideas can be turned into real solutions. This holistic strategy includes, as I said, forming pivotal partnerships with entities like Wavelength to drive the decarbonization of the shipping and energy sectors through cutting-edge projects in Power-to-X and energy storage solutions. Our collaborative efforts extend to developing a network across GCC countries, integrating technologies such as Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), and hydrogen energy systems. Together, these initiatives are designed to position Hub2Energy at the heart of regional energy innovation, rapidly converting new ideas into practical, scalable solutions while also fostering a carbon circular economy to address climate change and ensure a sustainable future.

What is the importance of participating at events like the Green Hydrogen MENA 2023 to Hub2Energy?

Participating in events like the GHMENA is crucial for Hub2Energy. These platforms allow us to advance our mission of promoting clean hydrogen, which is key to the global energy transitions. For instance, the EU-GCC cooperation event provided an excellent opportunity to develop synergies between Europe and the GCC in fostering sustainable energy innovations. Similarly, workshops organized with Kuwait University and the Embassy of the Netherlands mark significant beginnings of transformative partnerships in clean hydrogen. Such events not only showcase Kuwait’s potential in renewable energy but also emphasize the importance of international collaborations. They align perfectly with our commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions and fostering global partnerships.

What projects has Hub2Energy introduced as part of its contribution to the UN’s SDGs in clean energy, gender equality, and climate action?

At COP28 in Dubai, we co-organized an event focused on gender equity and women’s leadership in the energy sector, in collaboration with Kuwait Finance House and the UNDP. This event highlighted our commitment to fostering dialogue, diversity, and inclusive leadership in energy transitions. It brought together distinguished speakers from various countries and sectors, offering invaluable insights into the role of women in driving sustainable energy solutions. This initiative reflects our dedication to supporting the UN’s SDGs by promoting clean energy, gender equality, and effective climate action.

What initiatives do you have in the pipeline, particularly to meet Kuwait’s current and future energy requirements?

Looking ahead, and in addition of what I said, we are working on different initiatives. Recently, we have established a strategic partnership with InnoEnergy Skills Institute, which is co-funded by the EU and recognized as leading European training in providing a sustainable energy workforce. This partnership will help prepare the local workforce for new technologies essential for energy transitions. Secondly, we are launching a pilot project utilizing Enline technology, which enhances the efficiency and reliability of energy transmission. This innovative technology employs AI and mathematical algorithms to create a digital twin of the grid, improving real-time efficiency and predicting potential disruptions. Ultimately, this enables us to save more than 30% on energy on transmission lines. For example, this technology is already present on 5 continents and generates savings of millions of euros every day. This is especially relevant in a country like Kuwait, where transmissions lines are in the capacity limit and the need for more electricity won’t stop rising in the future. All these initiatives, along with our commitment to public-private partnerships, underscore our dedication to supporting Kuwait’s sustainability strategy and driving forward the real global clean energy agenda.