'Sofouf' Wins '2026 Innovative Energy Project' Award from the American Society of Energy Engineers (AEE)
The American Society of Energy Engineers honors the Kuwaiti Sofouf Center project in Florida for its innovations in sustainable energy.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) honored the “Souf” Center project, one of the flagship initiatives supported by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), for receiving the “Innovative Energy Project of the Year 2026” award for the Middle East and North Africa region, granted by the association. The award was presented at the regional awards ceremony for outstanding projects, institutions, and specialists in the fields of energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability, held in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The award was accepted by Eng. Dr. Dina Al-Naqeeb, Director of the Research Activation and Technology Department at KFAS, and Sheikh Bibi Duaij Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Sadu Artisans Association, in recognition of the project’s excellence in deploying innovative and sustainable energy solutions.
In a press statement, the foundation said that this honor reflects the success of the “Souf” Center as a model that integrates scientific research, sustainability, and practical application, by employing clean energy solutions, water recycling, and circular economy principles to process and utilize local wool, thereby transforming a local resource into a product with economic and environmental value.
The project idea was initiated by the Sadu Artisans Association, while KFAS funded and supported the associated scientific research. The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research implemented the project in collaboration with a livestock transport and trading company, in a model that demonstrates the integration of roles among national entities to transform ideas into practical and sustainable solutions.
The foundation added that this achievement aligns with its strategic direction of supporting applied research, development, and innovation, and enhancing the use of science and technology to address priority challenges, thereby contributing to sustainable economic, environmental, and social impact.
It emphasized that the “Souf” Center’s receipt of this regional award represents recognition of the joint national efforts that contributed to the project’s development, highlighting the capacity of research- and innovation-based projects to deliver impactful practical solutions, and strengthening the regional presence of innovative Kuwaiti projects.
