Renewable energy stakeholders to congregate in Abu Dhabi

With global industry expected to play a major role in realising the region’s ambitious renewable energy agenda, the World Future Energy Summit 2012 (WFES 2012) has announced that it has attracted an impressive line-up of international business and policy experts to discuss the opportunities for further increasing local capacity in renewable energy solutions.

To be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from January 16 to 19, WFES 2012, the annual event is an international gathering of communities dedicated to clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency and the environment. It is also a platform for government and industry decision makers committed to finding viable, sustainable solutions to the world’s growing energy challenges. Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions, are expected to participate in the summit.

Celebrating its fifth edition, this year’s Summit will welcome insights from industry chief executives, said the organisers, and shared the information that this included Ditlev Engel, President and CEO of wind turbine maker, Vestas; Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and CEO of Schneider Electric; and Mark Carne, Executive Vice President of Shell International, among other industry and policy specialists.

WFES Exhibition Director, Naji El Haddad, said: “Day two of the summit will examine in detail how the private sector can help achieve large-scale implementation of renewable energy, and what governments need to do to encourage the involvement of the business community. With 10 Arab states setting quotas for renewable power generation ranging between five and 42%, closer alignment between the public and private sector will be key.”

According to the announcement, analysts estimate that delivering on those goals will require a three-fold increase in renewable energy capacity across the Middle East and North Africa to at least 27,000 megawatts.

The announcement highlighted the trend that even countries that have not set targets are still investing in large-scale renewable energy projects, such as Saudi Arabia, which last year unveiled a two-megawatt rooftop solar power installation at the Jeddah-based research institute, KAUST.

According to the organisers, based on the theme Powering Sustainable Innovation, WFES 2012 will stage both a high-level conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services.

To be held under the patronage of HH General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and hosted by Masdar, WFES 2012 is also touted as an annual celebration of the winners of Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Future Energy Prize, which recognises global achievement in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability.