WFES Dailies 2023 - Day1

Today 01

World Future Energy Summit provides crucial blueprint for sustainability

The World Future Energy Summit opens today, convening leaders, innovators and global thinkers to share ideas that are creating the blueprints for a sustainable future in the run-up to COP28. Six exhibitions will feature global suppliers in solar, renewable energy, water efficiency, sustainable waste management, smart cities and climate change, while five industry forums will discuss the latest industry trends and opportunities.

“The World Future Energy Summit will bring together global energy leaders and policymakers to explore the technology and innovation needed to accelerate development of clean energy and sustainable projects,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

Solar

Spotlight on solar

The Arab World will see nearly US$700bn worth of investment in renewable energy between 2020 and 2050, with a target to generate more than 70GW of power from renewable energy by 2050. This, coupled with the recent COP27 and upcoming COP28, has propelled clean energy discussions across both public and private sectors.

The GCC has made huge headways in the solar field, with the UAE in the transition vanguard of solar PV deployment, with the aim of generating half of its electricity from carbon-free sources, driven mainly by solar PV, by 2050.

The Solar Expo & Clean Energy Forum will deliver up-to-date insights into the GCC’s transition goals of wholesale renewable energy systems.

Addressing water issues

The Middle East and North Africa is now the world’s most water-scarce region, but is witnessing rapid population growth and increasing water demand. The Water Forum will drive forward the global and regional water security conversation, while facilitating public and private sector business partnerships to enable innovation and sustainability in the region’s water sector.

Hydrogen

Focus on hydrogen

This year sees the introduction of the Hydrogen Innovation Hub to the Summit line-up, showcasing the potential of new hydrogen-fuelled technologies.

“Our Hydrogen Innovation Hub will serve as an incubator, showcasing key technologies enabling the production, transport, storage and use of green hydrogen. We hope to expedite collaboration, spur investment, and demonstrate the potential for regional projects, initiatives, and partnerships through this new feature at the show,” explained Leen Alsebai, Head of World Future Energy Summit and General Manager of RX Middle East.

Attendees will also witness the inaugural Green Hydrogen Summit organised by Masdar in partnership with IRENA and the Atlantic Council.

The World Future Energy Summit will bring together global leaders and the international energy industry, advancing the transition towards cleaner energy sources.

Water

“The World Future Energy Summit 2023 will serve as a powerhouse of commercial collaboration and knowledge exchange.”

Image credit: RX

INNOVATION: Sector trends

Consortium to progress wasteto-hydrogen plant

First-of-itskind energy system for Noor Energy 1

ALEC Energy, a leading solar solutions provider in the Middle East, has delivered a unique energy solution for the Visitor Centre of Noor Energy 1 – the world’s largest CSP installation located in Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, UAE. The energy system – the first of its kind in the world – is an off-grid microgrid with Azelio’s long-duration energy storage system. Leveraging Azelio’s TES.POD energy storage solution, combined with 300 kW of solar PV, the system delivers power to the facility, reducing the need for conventional power generation during night-time and overcast conditions.

Basar Kayali, General Manager of ALEC Energy said, “As the world’s largest single-site CSP, Noor Energy 1 is a landmark project that sets global benchmarks in clean energy production. The solution we have implemented here has the potential to revolutionise how clean power can be supplied to factories, agricultural facilities, and hotels or resorts in remote locations.”

The off-grid micro-grid with energy storage is significantly more cost efficient than the traditional alternatives of connecting to the national grid or relying on conventional powered generator sets.

Combining BEEAH’s expertise in waste management and material recovery, Chinook Sciences’ patented RODECS pyrolysis and gasification process, and Air Water’s hydrogen refinement technology, the waste-to-hydrogen plant in Sharjah will transform waste wood and plastic into fuel-cell grade green hydrogen. The plans for the plant include an on-site green hydrogen dispensing station capable of fuelling several vehicles.

Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group, said, “For BEEAH, the waste-to-hydrogen plant is an

The plant will include a green hydrogen dispensing station.

innovation that will enable us to eliminate the challenge of certain types of waste wood and plastic, while also producing fuel cell grade hydrogen, which is a solution for emissions-free mobility of the future. The project aligns with the UAE’s Hydrogen Leadership roadmap and demonstrates a feasible, scalable and sustainable approach to green hydrogen production. Together, we

ADNOC invests US$15bn in decarbonisation

ADNOC, provider of lower-carbon intensity energy, has announced a new strategy to progress the worldscale decarbonisation of its operations, allocating US$15bn (AED55bn) to advance an array of projects by 2030. These projects will include investments in clean power, carbon capture and storage (CCS), further electrification of its operations, energy efficiency and new measures to build on ADNOC's long-standing policy of zero routine gas flaring. ADNOC will apply a rigorous

commerical and sustainability assessment to ensure that each project delivers lasting tangible impact.

Throughout 2023, a suite of new projects and initiatives will be announced, including a first-of-itskind CCS project, innovative carbon removal technologies, investment in new, cleaner energy solutions and strengthening of international partnerships, in a bid to reduce carbon intensity by 25% by 2030 and

will break new ground in green, fuelcell grade hydrogen production for the region as well as globally.”

By 2030, the global green hydrogen production market is expected to reach US$1 trillion. As per its Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap, the UAE aims to be a hub for the export of green hydrogen and is targeting 25% of the global market.

achieve Net Zero by 2050.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said, “ADNOC continues to take significant steps to make today’s energy cleaner while investing in the clean energies and new technologies of tomorrow.

“Now, more than ever, the world needs a practical and responsible approach to the energy transition that is both pro-growth and proclimate, and ADNOC is delivering tangible actions in support of both these goals.”

“If we are to achieve meaningful and tangible outcomes, we must now shift gears and complement the technical discussions with more political high-level engagement.”

HE Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Egypt

BEEAH Group, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and the UK’s Chinook Sciences are forming a consortium with Japan’s Air Water that will advance progress on the Middle East’s first wasteto-hydrogen plant.

Image credit: Adobe Stock

“While the MENA region

EWEC delivers over 60% of power demand from clean energy sources

Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has announced that, for the first time, more than 60% of total power demand has been delivered from renewable and clean energy sources. The milestone was achieved on 20 December 2022, with approximately 5.5GW of the total 8.6GW system power demand being supplied from EWEC’s solar power and nuclear energy plants.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said, “Supplying over 60% of the total power demand from renewable and clean energy sources for the first time ever is a true testament to EWEC’s strategic initiatives that prioritise carbon-free technologies in support of the UAE’s sustainable and economic objectives. We are proud to be playing a pivotal role in the country’s energy transition by growing and diversifying our portfolio of world-leading utility-scale renewable energy projects. “

EWEC forecasts that its solar power projects, combined with the addition of nuclear power to the grid from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, will reduce carbon emissions to around 20mn tonnes by 2025 from more

HYDROGEN: Africa’s hydrogen potential

New partnership established to boost recycling

The partnership, which makes Spinneys the first retailer in the UAE to partner with RECAPP in order to provide in-store collection points, is aimed at making recycling in the country more effortless, sustainable and rewarding. Moreover, the initiative seeks to generate valuable data on the volume of materials returned for recycling, which will help better understand the future recycling solutions needed in the retail industry.

The waste will be sent to local manufacturing facilities, inspected, and industrially cleaned, ready to be reused and made into new materials, including cushions and quilts.

Jérôme Viricel, General Manager of RECAPP at Veolia Near & Middle East, said, “We are pleased to join forces with Spinneys with a shared goal of raising awareness and trust in local recycling practices. While

Sharjah Sustainable City makes progress

The Sharjah Sustainable City – the sustainable master-planned community developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with Diamond Developers – has handed over its first villas to homeowners, with more than 110 families enjoying their new sustainable homes.

Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, said, "It gives me

immense pleasure to see the enormous progress we have made at Sharjah Sustainable City –bringing us ever closer to becoming the first eco-friendly city in the heart of Sharjah.” Extending over an area of 7.2mn square feet in Sharjah's Al Rahmaniya Area, Sharjah Sustainable City contains a total of 1,250 sustainable villas. It is equipped with renewable energy produced from rooftop solar panels and built with sustainable materials and passive designs that reduce

contributing to the UAE’s efforts to reduce all forms of pollution, our aim is to benefit both the environment as well as the customers.”

The new collaboration with Spinneys will further strengthen RECAPP’s mission to keep recyclable materials within the UAE and support the country’s efforts in reducing plastic and other forms of pollution, both inland and in the sea.

utility bills and operational costs.

To support food security efforts, the city is home to indoor farming facilities and partially solar-powered greenhouses that annually produce about 10,000 kg of chemical-free leafy greens and vegetables, which is expected to increase to 15,000 kg.

Designed on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic, Sharjah Sustainable City embraces the concept of "living locally" in a fully integrated community offering a unique and sustainable lifestyle, thereby supporting national and global efforts toward reducing the carbon footprint.

faces some challenges in the waste management sector, we continue to leverage on key opportunities that will in return contribute to the circular economy of Abu Dhabi and the region.”

Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri, Acting Director General of Tadweer

RECAPP, Veolia’s digital recycling solution for individuals and businesses, has partnered with locallyowned supermarket Spinneys to offer shoppers incentives for returning recyclable items such as plastic bottles and metal cans to its stores.

The RECAPP-Spinneys initiative contributes to the UAE Circular Economy Policy.

Image credit: RECAPP/Spinneys

“We spare no effort to make Dubai a model for clean and renewable energy, sustainability, green economy, carbon reduction, and finding sustainable solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.”

HE Saeed

SOLAR & CLEAN ENERGY FORUMS: Programme of events

New report identifies water sector opportunities

The report, by business consultancy Frost & Sullivan, identifies Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey as water sector growth hotspots.

It says that despite the Middle East and Africa being the world’s desalination leader, with 48% of global operational capacity, there is still room for growth as the region battles with insufficient groundwater, low per capita water availability and growing water requirements. The report says the region will increasingly ditch high energy consuming thermal desalination technologies in favour of reverse-osmosis-based (RO) plants powered by renewables, including solar.

A high potential opportunity in the wastewater sector is identified as zero liquid discharge (ZLD) solutions, which enable the recovery of usable

water and treated contaminants from wastewater before reducing it to solid waste without any harmful environmental impact. The report forecasts compound annual growth of 8% in the Middle East’s ZLD market to 2025, by when it could account for up to US$100mn in revenue.

“All the issues identified in the Frost & Sullivan report will be addressed at the Water Forum, which is a vital knowledge resource for a sector facing unprecedented pressure,” commented Leen Alsebai, Head of World Future Energy Summit and General Manager of RX Middle East.

At COP27’s Hydrogen Transition Summit, Mitsubishi Power underscored the opportunity of hydrogen as a main enabler of energy transition, and as an integral constituent of a future decarbonised energy system.

In the opening session of the Summit, Javier Cavada, President and CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mitsubishi Power, highlighted the key role the MENA region can play in this regard: “The MENA region has potential to become a major exporter of hydrogen, with the availability of abundant and lowcost renewables, existing export infrastructure, as well as financing resources.”

Dr Cavada also stressed the importance of collaboration to realise the potential of hydrogen. “While hydrogen will continue to play an essential role in decarbonisation, its widespread deployment will require unprecedented collaboration with both existing and new technologies, industry partners, policymakers, and NGOs.

The MENA region has the potential to be a major exporter of hydrogen.

“Since 1970, Mitsubishi Power has pioneered hydrogen fuel combustion technologies. With our recent projects that have demonstrated the large-scale commercial validation of our technology and decadeslong expertise in this field, we are committed to support our customers across the region accelerate their energy transition with affordable and reliable solutions. This is going to be essential to demonstrating how hydrogen can competitively fulfil clean energy expectations and bring us one step closer towards a carbon neutral society,” added Cavada.

Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA

Image credit: Adobe Stock

CIRCULAR ECONOMY: Food supply chains

Expo City Dubai puts on sustainability-themed events

Off-grid renewables on upward trajectory

Off-grid renewables continue to grow, according to IRENA’s new report Off-grid Renewable Energy Statistics 2022. The report provides statistics covering mini-grids, biogas for cooking and lighting, off-grid solar lights, pumps, and home solar systems across Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

Rural communities with no access to electricity often use polluting and expensive lighting sources such as kerosene lamps or candles, the fumes of which can cause serious health problems; while a lack of electricity in health centres can result in disastrous outcomes for patients. However, with support from policymakers, private investors, and end users alike, the number of people using off-grid solar lights has increased dramatically from 15.4mn in 2012 to 112mn in 2021. In Africa alone, the number of people benefitting from off-grid solar lights has reached 52.6 million in 2021, according to the report.

The use of biogas as a clean cooking solution has also been expanding across African and Asian countries, improving living conditions and helping to reduce the effects of climate change. As of 2021, more than 122 million people benefitted from biogas for cooking.

Expo City Dubai, which will host COP28 in November 2023, is putting on a calandar of sustainability-themed events this year.

These will feature throught-provoking youth discussions, performances, exhibitions and more.

Expo City Dubai carries the sustainability legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai, with a commitment to engaging and elevating the voices of youth in the journey to a sustainable future.

“Tackling climate change remains at the top of the global agenda, a priority for the UAE, and a conversation we are actively engaged in as a city and education hub,” said Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education and Culture, Expo City Dubai. “It is clear that every individual must bear the responsibility to learn more about the challenges we face and how we can each play a role to help address them. Expo City Dubai

is proud to host COP28, helping to cement its legacy through a full calendar of impactful and engaging events.”

Designed as a blueprint for green urban planning, Expo City Dubai shares COP28’s objectives of achieving sustainability and enabling action towards climate security. It

Jinko Solar to showcase latest solar panels

Jinko Solar, one of the world's largest solar PV technology companies, will be showcasing its latest N-Type solar panel range at the World Future Energy Summit.

“We look forward to exhibiting again at the upcoming World Future Energy Summit,” said Dany Qian, VP of Jinko Solar. “This is an exciting time for us at Jinko Solar, as we delivered 18.21GW of solar panels globally in the first half of 2022, representing an

increase of 79% year-on-year. “We are increasing the production capacity of our N-Type panels, including the Tiger Neo, and are excited to showcase these, alongside other innovations, to our partners and attendees at the largest industry gathering in the Middle East.”

In December, Jinko Solar announced it had achieved a major technical breakthrough for its 182 mm highefficiency N-type monocrystalline

retains 80% of Expo 2020’s built infrastructure, including 123 LEEDcertified buildings and eight infrastructure projects rated ‘Excellent’ under CEEQUAL.

The Sustainability Pavilion continues to welcome visitors, empowering them to make more sustainable choices in their own lives.

silicon solar cell, achieving a maximum solar conversion efficiency of 26.4% for its 182 mm and above large-size monocrystalline silicon TOPCon solar cell, breaking the company’s previous record of 26.1% set in October.

Dr. Jin Hao, CTO of Jinko Solar Co. Ltd. commented, “Based on our clear roadmap for further efficiency improvements and cost reductions, we are confident that we will continue to deliver increasingly efficient, reliable and cost-effective products and services to our customers, and we remain dedicated to leading the industry to achieve the goal of clean energy transition."

“With international co-operation, the emerging hydrogen market has the potential to be more inclusive, with opportunities for developed and developing countries alike.”

Francesco La Camera, Director-General IRENA

The Sustainability Pavilion at Expo City Dubai.

WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT: Main themes

Harnessing Africa’s hydrogen potential

Africa could capture as much as 10% of the global green hydrogen market, according to a landmark report issued jointly by Masdar and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on the sidelines of COP27.

Africa’s plentiful solar and wind resources could be leveraged to produce 30-60mn tonnes per annum (mtpa) of green hydrogen by 2050, about 5-10% of global demand, according to the report, “Africa’s Green Energy Revolution: Hydrogen’s role in unlocking Africa’s untapped renewables,” produced with support from McKinsey & Company. An African hydrogen industry with that production capacity could create 1.9 to 3.7mn jobs and boost GDP by as much as US$60-120bn by 2050

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar Chief Executive Officer, said, “This report provides a blueprint for African nations to deliver sustainable, low-carbon growth while extending energy access across the continent. Green hydrogen has the potential to reduce emissions, unlock economic opportunities, and create new and valuable jobs for countries across the Middle East and North Africa region. With several green hydrogen projects underway today around the world – including a number in Africa – we look forward to continuing to work closely with our African partners to maximise the many achievable benefits of green hydrogen highlighted in this report.”

Africa could be among the most competitive sources for green hydrogen in the world, the report shows, with a cost of US$1.8 to 2.6 per kg in 2030, further decreasing to about US$1.2 to 1.6 per kg by 2050 as hydrogen production technology matures

Africa could reap significant benefits from developing its green hydrogen potential.

and renewable energy costs continue to decline.

Proximity to demand centres in Europe and Asia also optimally positions the continent to build an export-oriented hydrogen sector, the report suggests, noting African energy exports via green hydrogen and derivatives would reach 20-40 mtpa by 2050. The remaining 10-20 mtpa would serve domestic hydrogen demand, helping to boost electrification of African communities and delivering other socioeconomic benefits, including a more sustainable energy grid, expanded clean energy access, and reduced reliance on fossil fuel imports.

Masdar Director of Asset Management & Technical Services, Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, said, “Scaling up green hydrogen is an opportunity to not only build a robust global export sector on the African continent, but also to accelerate the

deployment of renewable energy overall. The gridconnected renewables used for green hydrogen production can feed energy into the grid to provide affordable clean energy to under-resourced areas –notably, in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has an average electrification rate of only 48%.”

Enabling production on the scale of 30-60 mtpa would require between 1,500 and 3,000 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable energy – equivalent to more than 50 times Africa’s current total production from solar and wind, the report states, requiring substantial investments. Beyond investments, the report recommends six broad areas for action: development of an integrated master plan; governance, international coordination, and mobilisation; establishment of regulatory frameworks for hydrogen exports; investments in infrastructure; sourcing and building a highly skilled workforce; and deployment of project de-risking mechanisms.

The importance of green hydrogen to the regional energy mix has never been more current. With the recent hosting of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, not only were new deals brokered to boost green hydrogen capacity, including Elsewedy Electric and ReNew Power signing a partnership to develop a green hydrogen project in Egypt capable of producing 220,000 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen, but countries such as Chile secured millions in funding to bolster their green hydrogen output. The inaugural Green Hydrogen Summit organised by Masdar in partnership with IRENA and the Atlantic Council on 18 January will provide a platform for leading hydrogen players worldwide to meet and exchange views.

”The world needs a just and inclusive energy transition that supports the needs of developing nations while ensuring a more sustainable future for us all.”

H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Chairman of Masdar

Scaling up green hydrogen is an opportunity to not only build a robust global export sector on the African continent, but also to accelerate the development of renewable energy overall.

Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi Director of Asset Management and Technical Services, Masdar

Image credit: Adobe Stock

Trends shaping sustainability innovation

3-D printing explores and accelerates larger, more complex advanced manufacturing services (AMS) projects – The construction sector contributes a chunk of energy-related CO2 emissions. However, 3-D printing’s latest advances in printing new materials, including cement and metals, and in printing larger objects can reduce the use of natural resources and waste in the sector, while increasing efficiency. Construction 3D printing allows faster and more accurate construction of complex or bespoke items.

AI more accurately monitors and reduces Scope 3 emissions in retail – A large amount of retail emissions are Scope 3 indirect emissions in their supply chain, making the industry one of the leading emitters in this class. Scope 3 is particularly complex to manage since it involves a system, much of which is beyond the retailer’s direct control. Technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) can help monitor the system’s carbon footprint, forecasting and reducing emissions by optimising internal operations and those of external partners.

Banks continue to create new forms of sustainable value, including greener, impactdriven products and services – Through their loan portfolios and product offerings, banks greatly influence how companies and consumers act, invest, and address their environmental footprints. Among consumers, the market for green products is growing quickly, and that means an enormous financing opportunity exists for lenders. Increasingly, regulators are also requiring banks to

measure and disclose their environmental impact, a task sometimes made difficult by limited access to reliable portfolio data and consistent standards of measurement. Established banks are sponsoring decarbonisation projects and offering services for cutting emissions. Start-ups are pushing into new sustainability-focused products and solutions, including green investment strategies, transactionbased carbon offsetting, and the allocation of profits to compensation projects.

Investing beyond carbon is now fundamental and non-negotiable for an entire portfoliolevel transformation by energy companies –Expanding government interventions, incentives and subsidies, coupled with changing customer, investor, and employee expectations, have leading energy companies reinventing and diversifying to lower the amount of “human-made” greenhouse gas emissions that come from energy sources. Digitalisation is creating new opportunities for partnerships and innovative business models, but companies must balance several other critical issues too, including energy affordability, energy security, and expected return on investment. One aspect of energy giants’ multifaceted approach is the creation of corporate venture capital funds to access new energy technology.

The healthcare industry is addressing the need to foster the circular economy – A substantial portion of the world’s plastic waste comes from healthcare, the majority associated with lifesaving medicine and procedures. Recently

The healthcare sector is a big source of plastic waste.

the World Health Organization estimated that the critical products needed to manage through a global pandemic have included 87,000 metric tons of personal protective equipment and 144,000 metric tons of syringes, needles, and other vaccine waste, as well as the chemical and plastic waste from more than 140mn test kits. A systemic change toward a circular economy could help reduce waste without compromising care.

Food consumption and production habits are at the heart of ESG growth, with vertical farming and lab-grown meat leading the way – The global food system creates more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to deforestation and species extinction. New approaches to agriculture and eating, including vertical farming and lab-grown meat, can reduce the amount of water and land required to produce the same or greater amounts of food. This decreases the need for long-haul transportation, chemicals, and pesticides. Cultured meat, requiring less energy and water than traditionally farmed meats, can create significantly fewer emissions.

The automotive industry is embracing air mobility enabled by changing regulations and societal acceptance – Cities consume most of the world’s energy supply, and highway vehicles release billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. Urban air mobility (UAM), transporting both goods and people and powered by drones, could decongest cities, reduce noise pollution, and help to decarbonise the energy sector. New technologies, such as electric propulsion and enhanced battery capacity, applied to vertical takeoff and landing systems, make this technically possible.

WATER FORUM: The latest developments in water and desalinisation

“As the UAE prepares to host COP28, we have already made clear that it will be a COP that gives a voice to all parts of society...as we build momentum in the energy transition.”

HE Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy & Infrastructure

Tom De Waele, Middle East managing partner, Bain & Company; Akram Alami, Partner & Middle East ESG Lead, Bain & Company; and Truc Mai Dupont Vohong, Vice President, Bain & Company highlight innovations poised to have an impact on seven industries.

Image credit: Adobe Stock

EXHIBITOR LIST: Who’s at the show

Powerhouse of inspiration for sustainability

The World Future Energy Summit – the leading business event for future energy and sustainability –begins a three-day run at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) today, with global energy and sustainable stakeholders eagerly anticipating insights and outcomes to accelerate global and regional adoption of the circular economy and clean energy.

The 2023 Summit will be a powerhouse of inspiration across key sustainability sectors through six exhibitions and five dedicated forums individually addressing today’s vital energy challenges and multi-sectoral impacts. The vertically segmented expos and forums focus on energy, water, EcoWaste, solar, smart cities, climate, and the environment. New to the Summit is the Hydrogen Innovation Hub, which will be running alongside the Energy Expo & Forum and will probe current and future solutions enabling green hydrogen to play a critical role in energy transition.

“This Summit more than any other can deliver a seismic shift in global, regional and local energy operations, policies, plans, investments and overall economic direction,” commented Leen Alsebai, Head of World Future Energy Summit, and General Manager of Summit organiser RX Middle East. “It comes at a time of a worldwide rethink on energy sources, supply resilience and the future-proofing

of resources against a backdrop of a mounting clamour for the industry to transform and be at the forefront of tangible action against climate change.”

Focus on sustainable waste management

The EcoWaste Exhibition & Forum, organised and hosted by Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center – Tadweer, will be a forerunner to the GCC’s adoption of circular economy leadership as the region and wider Middle East dial up efforts to

tackle their long-tolerated, urbanisation-induced waste dilemmas. EcoWaste participants will explore the GCC’s innovative approach to sustainable waste management, and game-changing solutions poised to help address the Middle East and Africa’s waste crisis, which the World Bank estimates will double to 255 million tonnes a year by 2050.

“There is a growing realisation of the urgency of the dilemma with the GCC currently generating between 105 and 130 million tons of waste a year, primarily from municipal solid waste, construction and demolition, and agriculture,” explained Alsebai. “The latest industry forecasts suggest US$60-85bn needs to be invested across plastic, concrete, cement, metal, and bio-waste value streams over the coming two decades to realise GCC waste management and landfill diversion targets.”

Local, regional, and global experts in recycling, reuse, re-manufacturing, waste management and waste-to-energy industries will share best practice knowledge unleashing a slew of new business opportunities, revenue streams and investment opportunities for businesses and start-ups across multiple sectors. The Forum will host prominent keynotes, case studies and panel discussions that

“Creating new opportunities through developing additional water sources is transformative.”

Rami Ghandour, Managing Director, Metito

This Summit can deliver a seismic shift in global, regional and local energy operations, policies, plans, investments and overall economic direction.

Leen Alsebai Head of World Future Energy Summit

The EcoWaste Exhibition & Forum will focus on sustainable waste management.

Image credit: Adobe Stock

deep dive into disruptive approaches to create new value from waste, technology for waste management, landfill diversion strategies, wasteto-energy studies, the end of single-use plastics and improved waste management techniques. It will also feature the UAE & GCC Waste Management Forum – a high-level GCC municipality discussion on ways to further the region’s sustainable waste management practices.

New Green Hydrogen Innovation Hub

The 2023 Summit will also debut a Green Hydrogen Innovation Hub, which will demo solutions to accelerate green hydrogen adoption in the regional and global energy transition. The Hub is running alongside the Summit’s Energy Expo & Forum and brings together key technologies enabling the production, transport, storage, and use of green hydrogen. The Hub will address green hydrogen’s potential and innovation across the full value chain, including electrolysis and conversion technologies, transport solutions, zero-emissions mobility, decarbonisation of industrial production processes and of buildings’ power consumption, large-scale storage, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, waste to hydrogen and hydrogen to ammonia conversion technologies. At the Hub, innovators from South Africa, Australia, the UK, USA, and Spain present solutions across green hydrogen usage, finance, production, and consulting.

The Summit’s knowledge-sharing programme is the most extensive to date, delivering in excess of 200 hours of expert and informed content across specialised Forums and subjects. A highlight is the new one-day-only ENOWA ENACT conference on January 17th from the energy, water, and hydrogen subsidiary of the new Saudi smart city NEOM.

“This session is being presented by the people driving a future of resilient clean energy at scale,” added Alsebai. “It is a must-attend for those wanting unique insights, inspiration and intelligence from C-suite experts and industry leaders.”

Sustainability in 21st century urban environments will come in for scrutiny in the dedicated Smart Cities Forum, which will focus on identifying strategies to reduce transport CO2 emissions, including the impact of electric and hydrogen powered vehicles, while global solar industry champions and pioneers will meet with engineering companies, technology providers, financiers, energy buyers, utility providers and government policy makers at the Solar Expo & Clean Energy Forumthe MENA region’s leading solar marketplace.

“To date, solar is proving to once again be a strong show sector as regional and global energy exhibitors look to use the World Future Energy Summit to access the bountiful regional opportunities,” said Alsebai.

“We are expecting a wide range of solar innovations and products to be a part of the show, and alongside with our list of industry heavy hitters speaking at the conference, we are well positioned to help realise the massive potential of solar to address the world’s increasingly complex energy supply dilemmas.”

Global solar giants will be side-by-side with entrepreneurial innovators, with both planning to launch Photovoltaic (PV)-related products for power generation, storage, and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) efficiency.

The Arab World will see nearly US$700bn worth of investment in renewable energy transition between 2020 and 2050, with a target to generate more than 70GW of power from renewable energy by 2050. This, coupled with the recent COP 27 and upcoming COP 28, has propelled clean energy discussions across both public and private sectors.

The World Future Energy Summit is hosted by Masdar and is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

CALENDAR: Schedule for the three days of WFES

“Mainstreaming green urbanism practices and designing resilient cities are key enablers of the climate change mitigation and adaptation drive.”

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change & Environment

Solar is a strong show sector at the World Future Energy Summit.

The Arab World will see nearly US$700bn worth of investment in renewable energy transition between 2020 and 2050, with a target to generate more than 70GW of power from renewable energy by 2050.