Climate solutions from female entrepreneurs spotlighted at
World Future Energy Summit
Pitch presentations from Climate Innovations Exchange (CLIX) participants kicked off on the second day of the World Future Energy Summit. Pioneering, female-driven sustainability solutions from more than 12 countries are being showcased at CLIX, an integral part of the World Future Energy Summit.
Women visionaries and female-centric, founded, or run startups with groundbreaking answers to some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges are looking to connect with investors and partners through the CLIX programme and showcase, where they can present their solutions to global investors on a dedicated stage.
Renewables
Alaska governor advocates for sustainability
Alaska Governor Michael J. Dunleavy presented a keynote speech at the World Future Energy Summit today. He discussed his state's efforts in sustainable energy, highlighting the importance of preserving natural and mineral wealth.
The Governor said that Alaska banned the routine flaring of natural gas in 1978 and that his administration continues to protect the environment.
Speaking of the Alaska Permanent Fund, the Governor said that it has ”grown to more than US$80bn and is on target by 2031 to reach more than US$100bn. The fund has also paid out more than US$30bn in dividends to our people.”
Initiatives
Reducing emissions in Ras Al Khaimah
A joint presentation from Etihad Water & Electricity, RAK Municipality, the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, and the RAK Public Services Department unveiled a series of sustainability initiatives that are being undertaken in support of the resolutions of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
The initiatives are part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce electricity, water and transportation fuel consumption by setting significant reduction targets and adopting best practices in green procurement.
Notably, the resolutions call for a 30% reduction in electricity consumption while reducing 20% of water and fuel usage by 2030.
The wealth in waste
Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer Group, used his keynote speech at the EcoWASTE conference to deliver a message that “waste is not the end of the cycle, but the beginning of new opportunities.”
In the eyes of Al Dhaheri, waste is a “vital resource” and one that can “power our cities, fuel our economies, and secure a cleaner, more prosperous world for generations to come.” In order to make the most of this opportunity and achieve this vision, he identified three key enablers as technology, partnerships and community engagement.
“We must redefine waste management as resource management, championing the idea that waste is wealth for our planet.”
Female innovators presented their pioneering sustainability solutions at CLIX.
CLIX Knowledge Partner Supported by
“By working together, we can turn waste into a resource, empowering a brighter and more sustainable future for all.”
Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer Group
FLOORPLAN: Who’s at the show
Female innovators pitch to investors at the World Future Energy Summit
Female entrepreneurs presented their cutting-edge transformative sustainability solutions in novel technologies, water and recycling, sustainable cities, transport and water to potential investors on the first day of the CLIX showcase.
CLIX, supported by knowledge partner UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), acts as a catalyst for fostering transformative technology-based solutions to address climate challenges.
The female innovators presented to potential investors with a virtual budget of US$10bn.
Winner of the first session was Christine Gabardo, co-founder and CTO of CERT Systems, whose one-step process produces sustainable ethylene using only recycled carbon dioxide and water, which can then be used for a broad range of applications including plastics, textiles, and sustainable aviation fuels. The electrochemical carbon utilisation technology plugs into the existing infrastructure, enabling petrochemical companies to drastically reduce their emissions, leverage their existing infrastructure, and reduce their CAPEX & OPEX compared to other sustainable solutions. The product is chemically identical to fossil fuelderived ethylene. The company is currently scaling towards a commercial pilot and raising U$6mn seed funding to build a commercial prototype, strengthen IP moat and secure initial offtake
companies. It is seeking new partnerships for technology development and piloting.
Investors praised the winner’s solution for the potential impact on the supply chain, scalability, disruptive circularity potential, strong team, deep tech and scientific focus and huge potential market.
Gabardo commented that she sees great potential
in the UAE for the technology given the growth of renewable energy. “This is obviously an area where a lot of oil and gas production is done, and so there is a big need to decarbonise,” she remarked.
“However our society will continue relying on the products that are currently made from oil and gas. Our technology provides a way to continue to make those products sustainably.”
Department of Energy and Aldar partner to advance energy and water efficiency
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aldar to strengthen collaborative efforts in energy and water efficiency, sustainability, and the preservation of resources for the benefit of future generations. This partnership will further support joint efforts aimed at empowering and promoting sustainability practices The MoU was formalised at the Department of Energy’s pavilion during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. This partnership forms a key element of the strategic collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and leading private sector firms, particularly in the real estate sector, which plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable development and fostering urban growth.
His Excellency Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, DoE Undersecretary, said, “The Department of Energy remains dedicated to forging and activating strong partnerships that positively and meaningfully impact the lives of the Emirate’s residents and its infrastructure. This is achieved by enhancing adherence to efficiency and sustainability standards in sector-related activities and associated practices, both at individual and organisational levels, while advancing efforts to promote environmental preservation and the prudent management of natural resources, energy, and water supplies.”
Christine Gabardo made the winning pitch in the novel technologies session.
The MoU was formalised during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
"We
envision a future where an affordable, sustainable and secure, clean energy source powers every corner of our country.”
H.E.
Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy & Petroleum Affairs at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure
PATHWAY
Global CMX announces UAE expansion at WFES 2025
Energy and government relations firm Global CMX has officially launched its UAE expansion during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi. This follows the UAE and Australia’s recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to explore cross-border investments in renewable energy, green fuels and green data technologies.
Global CMX has launched the first in a series of investment portfolios featuring renewable energy and infrastructure projects from Australia, with the inaugural portfolio worth US$500mn.
The FTA framework covers investment flow for construction of energy storage assets, virtual power plants and utility-scale solar facilities. Future projects will involve green fuels and utility-scale energy storage, among others.
“Our mission is to unlock transformative opportunities for international investors and governments, providing a platform for sustainable growth and innovation,” said Trevor Ducharme, CEO of Global CMX. “This fund underscores our commitment to fostering long-term economic prosperity while addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and energy security.”
“Global CMX is uniquely positioned to bridge markets and facilitate bankable investments in both the UAE and Australia. This initiative represents a significant
step forward in advancing sustainable technologies and economic partnerships globally,” he said.
According to Ducharme, WFES represents a global convergence of visionaries and changemakers. “We’re excited to not only contribute to the discussions shaping the future of energy but to unveil a groundbreaking initiative that will further align sustainable energy solutions with cross-border collaboration. We anticipate significant activity and momentum following the ratification of the free trade agreement," he said.
Masdar, EWEC launch gigascale project
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has launched a ‘round the clock’ gigascale project, combining solar power and battery storage in Abu Dhabi.
The launch was announced by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, and His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADQ.
“By advancing energy infrastructure, we are leading the way in developing cost-effective, scalable renewable energy, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a key player in shaping the future of global energy. Guided by the UAE leadership, this united effort within the energy sector powers the nation’s technological advancement, ushering in a new era of intelligence, resilience, flexibility, and commercial opportunity while ensuring sustainable and uninterrupted energy for exponential growth,” said Alsuwaidi.
Catalyst boosts UAE’s startup ecosystem
Clean tech startup Catalyst announced three new direct investments and 10th cohort of startups joining its Accelerator programme, at the World Future Energy Summit, alongside key strategic partnerships with BEEAH, Hub71, and Flat6Labs.
Ahmed Baghoum, Chairman of Catalyst and CEO of Masdar City, said, “Our newest cohort and our partnerships with BEEAH, Hub71, and Flat6Labs underscore our commitment to nurturing this ecosystem. These startups are developing groundbreaking climate tech solutions that we believe will have a long-lasting impact as we identify new and innovative ways to act for the environment.”
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, said, “Together with Catalyst, we are excited to pursue our common ambition to drive the growth of startups and contribute to the UAE's evolution into an entrepreneurial nation. Through our longstanding relationship with Masdar City, Catalyst's founding organisation, our collaboration with Catalyst will further strengthen our partnership in a new area: shaping a new generation of entrepreneurs. This collaboration is closely aligned with BEEAH's efforts in pioneering sustainability and inspiring innovations that empower humanity's future.” A
Global CMX has launched the first in a series of investment portfolios.
united effort within the energy sector powers UAE’s technological advancement.
“We cannot get to net zero without the whole population behind it.”
Beena Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder CCU International
A call to action on AI
Dr. Diana Francis, Climate Scientist and ENGEOS Lab Head, Khalifa University, gave an engaging presentation at the Pathways to 1.5C Conference, examining the emerging role of AI in confronting climate challenges.
Dr. Francis began the session with a stark warning about the increasing urgency of climate change, a challenge that is accelerating in scale every year. She reflected on the previous two years which broke multiple records including around greenhouse gas levels; air, land and sea surface temperatures; the first year with an average temperature that exceeds 1.5° C above the preindustrial level; and record amount of water vapour in the air. Further damning signs include a decreasing amount of aerosols and less low-level clouds which both provide a cooling effect.
And Dr. Francis left little doubt that these unwanted accolades were driving an increasingly volatile climate: “Extreme events that were in the preindustrial climate were sparse and not numerous, now they can occur more frequently. Additionally, the intensity of them is actually getting stronger.” In 2025, the global population is therefore having to contend with more droughts, storm surges, heatwaves, wildfires, blizzards, air population and more, and Dr. Francis directed attention to the floods that affected Dubai last year as a pertinent demonstration of this.
However, while the scale of the climate challenge is growing, so too are the capabilities of technologies designed to combat it, and much hope is now being
SOLAR AND CLEAN ENERGY: What’s on the agenda?
placed in the potential of AI in this battle.
Dr. Francis broke down the solutions to the climate crisis into three sections: adaptation, mitigation and innovation. “AI can be a really powerful tool in all of these,” she noted.
In regards to adaptation, she continued, the most use cases for AI are in regards to climate modelling and prediction, with AI-driven early warning systems enabling people to be prepared to, ultimately, save lives.
Elsewhere, AI can support the global mitigation effort by optimising the AI-driven grid, predicting energy demand and helping renewables to meet this demand by facilitating efficient operations.
Finally, for innovation, the applications are almost limitless, but Dr. Francis drew attention to its emerging use in precision farming (through crop monitoring, pest control, yield optimisation and water resource management); in smart cities (with AI-driven traffic management to reduce emissions and energy-efficient building designs); and in waste management (for recycling and waste sorting and reuse).
Concluding her session, Dr. Francis gave a call to action on AI, expressing the transformative potential that the technology has for climate solutions, and stressing that collective effort is needed to scale AI solutions in order to realise this. “Together, let’s innovate and act for a sustainable future,” was the final message of her presentation.
Khalifa University puts the spotlight on sustainable research innovations
With the World Future Energy Summit providing a platform for global thinkers to share their blueprints for a sustainable future, the Khalifa University of Science and Technology stand is presenting eight projects that stand out as breakthrough innovations.
“As a research-intensive institution, Khalifa University is pleased to present innovations that are designed to advance clean energy and sustainability solutions for the benefit of the community,” remarked Professor Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University. “Our projects, focusing on managed energy transition, advanced materials and manufacturing, water treatment, and food security, are designed to support the development of a sustainable and secure society. This work exemplifies the kind of in-depth research that Khalifa University is renowned for.”
Highlighted projects include technologies for CO2 capture, utilisation, and storage; sustainable hydrogen production; development of sustainable fuels for heavy transportation; and the AI software SAVE (Stability Assessment, Visualization, and Enhancement) for predicting power grid stability.
Dr. Diana Francis, Scientist and ENGEOS Lab Head, Khalifa University, giving her presentation during the Pathways to 1.5C Conference.
Khalifa University’s stand at the World Future Energy Summit.
“Our founders recognised that the natural resources of today will not last forever, and we must always be prepared for the future yet to come.”
Honourable Michael J. Dunleavy, Governor of Alaska (USA)
SOLAR: MESIA update
The UAE stresses the importance of global collaboration for a faster energy transition
Solar and clean energy was in the spotlight on the second day of the World Future Energy Summit, where industry stakeholders discussed solutions to advance renewable energy solutions.
H.E. Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy & Petroleum Affairs at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, spoke about the future of clean energy systems in the country. In his keynote speech, he underlined the steps the UAE has taken to accentuate the clean energy transition.
"Today, we proudly boast three of the world's largest and most cost effective solar plants,” he said, adding that “Additionally, the Barakah nuclear energy plan plays a critical role in diversifying our energy measures, providing up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs.”
The country’s national hydrogen strategy was marked with the goal of positioning the UAE as a key producer and exporter of low carbon hydrogen.
“The strategy helps accelerate the global hydrogen economy and will scale up local hydrogen production to 1.4 million tons per annum by the year 2031 and 15 million tons per annum by the year 2050.”
At the same time, the UAE’s energy strategy 2050 aims to triple the contribution of renewable energy in the country. “It aims to invest anywhere between
H.E. Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy & Petroleum Affairs at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure highlighted the urgency of transformative action in the energy sector.
US$40bn and US$55bn by the year 2030 to meet the country's increasing demand for energy as a result of a rapidly growing economy.”
However, none of these ambitious targets can be achieved if there is no collaboration between the government, the private sector and communities alike.
ENEC aims to export its nuclear expertise
“Achieving meaningful form of progress in the clean energy transition requires the mobilisation of resources and investments in renewable energy for projects at both national and global levels.
“Strategic investments are essential for reducing emissions and strengthening the resilience of energy systems worldwide."
Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) has set up a subsidiary company named ENEC Consulting. The company said it will offer advice on project management, regulations, financing, and workforce development in the nuclear sector. ENEC has operated for more than 15 years in the UAE, and has managed the delivery of the country’s flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which began full-fledged operations in September last year.
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, “The UAE has demonstrated a proven ability to decarbonise its grid, achieving the highest per capita addition of clean electricity globally in the past five years, with 75% of this energy coming from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.”
Mohamed Al Braiki, General Manager of ENEC Consulting, remarked, “Our mission at ENEC Consulting is to support other countries and organisations seeking to integrate nuclear energy into their clean energy strategies. By leveraging our insights and experience, we aim to accelerate decarbonisation of power grids through the development of sustainable nuclear energy solutions.”
The ENEC stand at the World Future Energy Summit 2025.
“Ensuring water security demands an integrated approach.”
H.E. Eng Ahmed Mohamed Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary, DoE Abu Dhabi
ECOWASTE:
What’s on
the agenda
Decarbonising waste management
The UAE’s drive to advance a circular economy approach has been strengthened with the launch of the National Agenda for Integrated Waste Management.
Launched by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in collaboration with local authorities across the UAE, the Agenda supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sets key targets such as the treatment of 80% of municipal solid waste, 99% of hazardous waste, and 80% of non-hazardous waste, as well as ensuring that 90% of the UAE's landfills meet sanitary standards.
Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at MOCCAE, said, "The National Agenda for Integrated Waste Management functions as a key driver of sustainable economic development by establishing effective governance of the waste sector, serving as a key pillar in optimising the utilisation of natural resources through recycling and sustainable waste management practices. This approach significantly contributes to decarbonising one of the most impactful sectors in line with the goals of the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy."
A key focus of the Agenda is minimising waste production by fostering positive behavioural change, which includes establishing a legislative and policy framework to support sustainable production and consumption initiatives, especially with regard to food loss and waste, single-use products, and agricultural waste. The Ministerial
Resolution No. (380), which bans single-use plastic products, has been complemented by local decisions and policies aligned with the same objectives, fostering a cultural shift in the management of such products and increasing community awareness of their impact.
The sorting of waste, recycling, and reuse technologies is another focus, employing a circular economy approach. In line with this, several emirates have implemented source separation systems. Local authorities and other entities are encouraged to implement waste treatment projects across the UAE, leveraging global best practices, such as the municipal solid waste treatment and electricity production plant recently completed in Dubai.
The third focus is the establishment of a new methodology for the safe and environmentally friendly disposal of waste in landfills by utilising artificial intelligence systems to monitor landfills and measure emissions generated from them.
MOCCAE has also launched the "Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)" framework, which holds manufacturers accountable for the entire life cycle of their products, including post-consumer waste management through processes such as recovery programmes, waste treatment, and final disposal.
A significant contributor to UAE and global efforts to reduce emissions in the waste sector is the "Waste to Zero" initiative, the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and Tadweer Group. The initiative is chaired by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UAE
This approach significantly contributes to decarbonising one of the most impactful sectors, in line with the goals of the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy.
Her Excellency Eng. Alia Abdul Rahim Al Harmoudi Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector, MOCCAE
The National Agenda for Integrated Waste Management promotes a circular economy approach.
Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), and has attracted a number of public and private sector entities from around the world, underlining the UAE’s commitment to international collaboration in addressing climate challenges. With its signatory institutions, it has developed innovative use cases that demonstrate how advanced technologies and sustainable practices can decarbonise the waste management value chain and turn waste into valuable resources.
They include an AI-powered platform supporting the collection and recycling of e-waste, which streamlines e-waste collection and recycling by directly connecting consumers with recycling points. The waste is converted into synthesis gas and slag-containing precious metals. Another use case is Recyling BI, a new digital solution for smarter waste management and recycling, which harnesses the power of data at every stage of the waste management recycling value chain. Using this technology, BEEAH Group leverages real-time data from sensors, smart bins, a weighbridge network, and GPS-enabled waste collection trucks to optimise operations, reduce fuel consumption, and improve material recovery. This has contributed to BEEAH achieving 90% landfill waste diversion in Sharjah.
“We invest in innovation and use the latest technologies to promote water resources and enhance our state-of-the-art infrastructure.”
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA
EXHIBITOR LIST: Who’s at the show
Trends in climate tech investment
PwC Middle East’s 2024 Climate Tech report highlights the shifting dynamics of climate tech investment in the region.
Over the past year, US$3.6bn flowed from Middle Eastern investors into global climate tech, a 28% decline from 2023. Investment into local climate tech ventures also dropped sharply, falling 41% to US$114mn, compared to US$193mn in the previous year. Despite these declines, key sectors, such as electric mobility and AI-driven autonomous technologies show promising growth, highlighting the region’s transformative potential in advancing climate innovation.
Mobility remains a focal point, accounting for 84% of the region's total outward global investment. Strategic investments in EV technologies are accelerating the transfer of intellectual property, technological expertise and high-skilled jobs to the region – critical components in building a robust and resilient EV ecosystem. This focus underscores the region's strategy of adopting proven global technologies to strengthen local capacity and technical skills within the EV industry, setting the stage for a sustainable future.
AI-driven climate tech is another area of growth, with the Middle East investing US$2.4 billion globally in 2024, nearly 2.5 times the amount invested in 2023. Autonomous vehicles dominated these investments, accounting for 96% of this total, reflecting the region's ambition to redefine the future of mobility. AI-related climate-tech companies in the Middle East also attracted US$47.3mn in global investments in 2024, a significant increase from the US$5.4mn raised in 2023.
PwC analysis also highlights the active participation of Middle East sovereign investment funds (SIFs) in the global climate tech landscape. Although the number of unique Middle East investors declined from 98 to 47 over the past year, they collectively invested US$3.55bn globally in 2024. The majority of these deals involved US-based innovators (21 deals), followed by UAE-based climate tech firms (15 deals), underscoring the pivotal role Middle Eastern SIFs continue to play in advancing global climate tech innovation.
However, critical funding gaps persist in high-
Addressing funding gaps in critical sectors like energy and food systems is crucial for accelerating the region’s decarbonisation journey.
Dr. Yahya Anouti Sustainability Leader, PwC Middle East
emitting sectors like energy, industrial manufacturing and agriculture, which remain underfunded despite their decarbonisation potential. For instance, regional funding for energyrelated climate tech fell to a record low of US$13mn, down from US$22mn in 2023. Addressing these gaps through targeted investments in talent development, infrastructure and homegrown innovation is essential to achieving meaningful progress.
Dr. Yahya Anouti, Sustainability Leader at PwC Middle East, commented, "Addressing funding gaps in critical sectors like energy and food systems is crucial for accelerating the region’s decarbonisation journey. By fostering innovation, scaling homegrown technologies and leveraging transformative solutions, such as AI and electric mobility, we can explore new opportunities for sustainable growth. Together, we must mobilise capital effectively to drive meaningful local and global climate impact."
Despite a tough investment climate, the region’s strategic focus on mobility and AI reflects a growing maturity in identifying and pursuing high-impact opportunities. However, closing funding gaps in underfunded sectors and fostering innovation locally are vital to advancing net zero ambitions and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Closing funding gaps and fostering innovation are vital to advancing net-zero ambitions.
“As the world accelerates toward net-zero goals, carbon removal technologies will play a critical role in reshaping the energy landscape and driving meaningful climate action.”
Dr Mohammad Abu Zahra, Head of Middle East and Africa, Global Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) Institute
WATER CONFERENCE:
What’s on the agenda
Advancing a sustainable water future
Leveraging sustainable solutions and smart water technologies, including AI, will be critical for a resilient water sector, as highlighted at the World Future Energy Summit’s Water Conference.
According to current UN Environment Programme data, only 11 per cent of the world’s treated wastewater is reused, with approximately 50 per cent of untreated wastewater polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans. Treated wastewater reuse is a valuable yet underutilised resource, and offers a circular economy opportunity, creates new revenue streams and jobs, fosters innovation, and advances wastewater management practices. Beyond irrigation and industrial cooling, treated wastewater can recharge groundwater aquifers, be utilised as a concrete additive in construction, and even produce biogas through waste-to-energy technology.
The Middle East and Africa (MENA) region, home to 15 of the world’s 20 most water-scarce nations, faces mounting water security threats. According to The World Bank, by 2030, the amount of water available per capita in MENA will fall below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 cubic meters per person, per year and, as the population grows, the problem will become even more acute. Against this backdrop, the World Future Energy Summit’s Water Conference is addressing the critical water security challenges faced by arid regions, including MENA, and serving as a platform to discuss sustainable solutions in desalination, wastewater reuse, water network optimisation, and smart water technologies. This includes leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT for real-time
monitoring, leak detection, irrigation optimisation and opportunities to transform wastewater into sustainable revenue-generating models.
Dr Mohamed Hamyd Dawoud, Advisor for Environment Quality at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi said, "The Water Conference spotlights the critical role of innovation in addressing water challenges in arid regions, where climate change and population growth are driving an increase in demand. As water scarcity deepens, cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are emerging as game-changers in enhancing water supply and efficiency.”
According to Dawoud, AI-driven tools enable realtime monitoring, predictive modelling, and optimised water distribution, ensuring resources are allocated with precision, with innovations in
As water scarcity deepens, cutting-edge technologies and AI are emerging as gamechangers in enhancing water supply and efficiency.
Dr Mohamed Hamyd Dawoud Advisor for Environment Quality, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi
Innovation will be critical to address water security challenges in arid regions.
desalination, wastewater reuse, and smart irrigation systems redefining water management to meet growing needs sustainably. At the same time, these advancements support resilience to climate impacts, such as droughts and erratic rainfall.
Alok Srivastava, General Manager at Clear Water Solutions, part of the UAE-based Al Shirawi Group, emphasised the importance of industry collaboration, stating, “Through our efforts, our company is contributing directly to addressing water security challenges in the Middle East by introducing sustainable desalination solutions that incorporate biological treatment and membranebased methods. Being part of the World Future Energy Summit has greatly enhanced our networking opportunities and deepened our understanding of emerging trends and technologies.”
The Summit is showcasing a variety of waterrelated innovations, including AI-driven irrigation systems, blockchain for water management transparency, and cutting-edge nanotechnology in water treatment, which, according to Consegic Business Intelligence, will be a market worth over US$53bn by 2031, growing by 16.3 per cent annually.
“These technologies underscore the UAE’s commitment to sustainability and align with its National Climate Change Plan, which looks to secure resilience across water, energy, and infrastructure by 2050,” said Leen AlSebai, General Manager of RX Middle East and Head of World Future Energy Summit.
“Masdar’s pioneering and innovative track record as the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse provides demonstrable evidence of the UAE’s ambitious clean energy goals and the region’s growing prominence as a sustainability leader.”
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO Masdar
Bright prospects ahead for solar energy
Fazle Moyeen Quazi, President of the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA), discusses progress and prospects in the MENA region’s solar energy sector.
How do you view the progress of the MENA regioin in expanding its solar capacity and achieving sustainability targets?
With five countries in the Middle East pledging net zero emissions, the MENA region has grown substantially in the renewable sector with an expectation to triple its existing capacity by 2030. In the last few years, we have clearly noticed a paradigm shift in the investment priority attached to renewable energy. According to the IEA, renewable capacity is expected to grow to around 200GW by 2030, 85% of which is expected to be derived from solar power installation. Of this, onethird growth is expected to come from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, followed by the UAE, Morocco, Oman and Egypt.
The World Bank estimates that of the global installation base in solar energy, around 25% of this is expected to be in the MENA region.
What steps do you belive are necessary to further incentivise development in areas such as finance and investment, infrastructure, supply chain etc.?
To foster the growth of renewable energy in the MENA region and meet the target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, it is important to be focus on the key drivers, which are:
• Stronger and more favourable policies and regulatory frameworks along with the reduction of permitting times
• Modernisation and enhancements in grid infrastructure to support the intermittency of renewable energy and integration of higher penetration of energy mix
• Access to green financing and de-risking investments with the right structure and mechanisms.
How are solar technologies evolving, and are there any trends or developments you would like to highlight?
The last few years have seen the growth of PV module technology, primarily driven by advancements in material, hi-tech automated and AI-based manufacturing techniques, and design innovations. Efficiencies driven by module manufacturers, improved bi-faciality factors, lower degradation rates, better temperature co-efficient and increased power bin capacity have all led to a lower levelised cost of electricity.
It is our belief that with further developments and emerging trends in perovskite cells, quantum dot solar cells and continuous research thereof in making solar energy more efficient, cheaper and accessible, solar energy is being enabled to play a pivotal role in the energy transition.
What role does MESIA play in promoting the growth of solar in the region?
MESIA’s mission lies in promoting and advancing solar power in the MENA region by fostering
We have clearly noticed a paradigm shift in the investment priority attached to renewable energy.
Fazle
Moyeen Quazi
President, MESIA
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS: Thanks to our supporters
collaboration amongst stakeholders, developers, policy makers and technology OEMs in the solar energy sector, thereby facilitating exchange of knowledge, sharing of best practice, networking and market development to facilitate energy transformation in the MENA region.
Abydos Solar PV plant commissioned
AMEA Power has announced the commissioning of the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant in Egypt, the country's largest solar project to date.
Financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Abydos Solar PV Plant will generate around 1,500GWh of clean energy annually which is enough to power approximately 300,000 households.
Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power said, “The solar power plant is a significant step in Egypt’s renewable energy strategy, supporting the goal of achieving 42% of energy generation from renewables by 2030. Together, we are driving progress toward a sustainable future.”
