Global meeting starts today to explore innovative technology
650 COMPANIES AND 20 NATIONAL PAVILIONS TAKING PART IN EXHIBITION
Abu Dhabi World leaders, i n t e r n a t i o n a l a ge n c i e s , sustainability advocates, global heads of businesses and experts, academics and students interested in future energy technologies gather today in Abu Dhabi for the World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2012), running till Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The summit comes a few days after Dubai announced its biggest renewable energy initiative — the Dh12 billion Solar Park — last week. Hydrocarbon rich Gulf states are pumping in billions of dollars in diversifying their energy mix to make economies more sustainable.
“Now in its fifth year, the World Future Energy Summit is the world’s foremost annual meeting committed to promoting advancement of future energy technologies, including renewable resources, energy efficiency, water and waste management ... [This will be done] by engaging political, business, f inance, academic and industry leaders to drive i nnovation, business and investment opportunities in response to the growing need for sustainable energy,” said a spokesperson.
Built around the theme ‘Powering Sustainable Innovation,’ WFES 2012 will stage both a high- l evel conference and exhibition, with companies from all over the world promoting their latest products and services. Over 26,000 attendees, including 3,000 delegates, 650 exhibiting companies and 20 national pavilions are participating.
Student pledge
The summit will open with a ‘Policy and Strategy Forum’, where leaders in government and global development organisations will put the future energy challenge in perspective.
Keynote speakers at the opening ceremony include UN Secretary General Banki Moon, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and UN General Assembly president Nasser Abdul Aziz Al Nasser.
Speeches by Bertrand Picard, chief executive officer of Solar Impulse, and Aiden Dwyer, a young innovator from the US, along with a pledge by a group of UAE students to commit themselves to innovation for a cleaner future, will conclude the opening ceremony.
The summit will then split into three Ministerial Panel sessions with former heads of state, ministers and key advisers to governments on energy exchanging views on ‘Sustainable Energy for All,’ ‘ Action Towards Universal Energy Access’ and ‘The Role of Government Institutions in Accelerating the Transi- tion to a Global Clean Energy Economy’.
“The attendance of key p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s f r o m across the world is a reflection of the convening power of Masdar, which is rapidly emerging as a globallyrenowned brand in the renewable energy field,” said Naji Al Haddad, the WFES exhibition director.
Balance
“As governments and policymakers face a development dilemma, a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary approach to encouraging investment in innovations is critical to ensuring energy security.
“In this regard, Masdar’s contribution to the summit has been invaluable. As every year, WFES will approach the energy challenge in its entirety, emphasising all aspects from environment and t echnology to investment and trading,” he said.
To ensure equitable balance on all issues associated with energy, sustainability and development, WFES has dedicated each day of the conference to a topic of global relevance.
Investment
The second day of the conference will discuss “Busi ness a nd Pol i c y ” while “Technology and Innovation” will take centre stage on the third day.
Investment will be theme of the final day.
For the second consecutive year, a Project Village, hosting select projects in renewable energy and energy
the efficiency from the Middle East, India, Africa, and other markets is a significant component of WFES.
The summit will also host the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) programme, an initiative organised in partnership with Masdar Institute. This will provide an opportunity for future leaders to interact with government representatives and business leaders involved in clean energy initiatives.
A n ew d eve l o p ment this year is the Innovate@ WFES zone dedicated to select small and mediumsized businesses working across the future energy value chain.