Five Key Research Thrusts have been defined within the KAUST CCI:

1.- The CO₂ Capture Thrust focuses on the demonstration of direct air capture (DAC) and point source capture technologies developed at KAUST, from the development and upscaling of new adsorbents to process design, cost estimation, environmental analysis and small-scale demonstration. This thrust will encompass metal-organic-framework (MOF) and cryogenic CO₂ capture.

2.- Within the Nature-Based Solutions Thrust we conduct research to advance our understanding of key natural processes that decarbonize the atmosphere to re-carbonize the biosphere, with a special emphasis on Saudi ecosystems spanning the marine to coast to desert continuum. We assess their potential for carbon removal and develop actionable knowledge to manage their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, both in KSA and globally.

3.- The Geo-Solutions Thrust explores and quantifies the potential of geological storage and geothermal energy in the context of the Circular Carbon Economy. We aim to identify the most feasible locations in Saudi Arabia for geothermal energy generation and for CO₂ storage in non-well-based settings.

4.- The E-Fuels Thrust harvests the expertise on campus pertaining to the manufacture and application of synthetic fuels, with special emphasis on drop-in fuels derived from CO₂ that are compatible with existing power trains, together with future fuels and energy carriers, such as ammonia. With this thrust, we will evaluate energy efficiency, environmental impact and life cycle analysis in order to compare the different technologies.