Eng. Hamed Al-Saggaf, Executive Director, IPP& Renewable Energy New Venture Department, Saudi Electricity Company, led the inauguration of Saudi Elenex 2019 on April 29 on behalf of Eng. Fahad bin Hussein al-Sudairi, President and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company. The 22nd edition of the thee-day international show for electricity, alternative energy, lighting, water, and air conditioning is being held at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre (RICEC) in Saudi Arabia. Key officials and decision makers from the public and private sectors and other international participants are taking part in the event to share their expertise in natural resources and renewable energy. Saudi Elenex is being staged under the patronage of Saudi Electricity Company with support from SABIC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) as research partner. The attendees are expected to tackle the different aspects of renewable energy development and the globally accepted research and development practices in line with Saudi Arabia's economic development program. Another topic of discussion is the myriad of investment opportunities in the local renewable and clean energy sectors as Saudi Arabia continues to work towards maximizing their potentials and raising their competitiveness. The government is investing USD 109 billion to produce 41GW of solar power in line with a comprehensive plan to produce 54GW of renewable energy by 2032. Mohammed Bin Suleiman Al Al-Sheikh, Head of Marketing, Riyadh Exhibition Company Ltd, said: "The 22nd Saudi Elenex is a strategic international platform designed to introduce the international community to the ongoing developments within the Saudi energy sector, especially in the field of clean and sustainable energy. Renewable energy is one of the pillars of the National Transformation Program 2020 and Saudi Vision 2030. This year's edition showcase the latest technologies and innovations in renewable and non-renewable energy sectors, offering opportunities for effective partnerships among leading manufacturers, distributors, national companies, and global leaders who are looking to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the Kingdom, which is the largest regional market for solar energy." The Riyadh Exhibitions Company Ltd. has been involved in successfully organizing trade exhibitions, conferences, and interactive events in the Kingdom for more than 38 years now. The event will serve as another addition to the organization's long list of achievements made possible by its proven experience and high-quality resources. The company has organized a total of 440 successful events so far. As part of its economic development program, Saudi Arabia continues to increase its power generation capacity from 77GW in 2014 to 156GW by 2040. The Kingdom is also seeking to achieve energy efficiency and improve the competitiveness of the domestic energy industry in line with its clean and renewable energy strategies. The government aims to boost production rates in this sector to support Saudi businesses and industrial units as it aims to meet the growing domestic demand for energy. Saudi Elenex 2019 coincides with the ‘Saudi Sustainable Energy and Technology Forum 2019,' which will focus on the current status of renewable energy in the country. Senior decision makers, policy makers, and influential solution providers involved in the local renewable energy system are some of the forum's high-level participants. — SG
