ORGANIZERS of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) announced Saturday that Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman Al Hussayen, Saudi Minister of Water and Electricity, will lead a delegation of senior energy ministers and officials from national energy companies Saudi Aramco and the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) at WFES, January 19-22, in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia's participation at the region's largest sustainable energy event comes as the country is accelerating the implementation of domestic renewable energy projects. Earlier this year, KACARE announced its plans to build solar power plants in five regions across the country by the end of 2015 as it works to diversify its domestic energy supplies. According to Saudi Arabia's renewable energy roadmap, more than 17 gigawatts of operational solar power and six gigawatts of clean energy from wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy, will be fully operational by 2020. Saudi Arabia has announced $109 billion for the development of 41 gigawatts of solar power, as part of a wider plan to install 54 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2032. WFES takes place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) on January 17-24 – a global platform attracting more than 32,000 delegates to address the interconnected challenges of economic development, water scarcity, poverty, energy and climate change that affect the widespread acceleration and adoption of sustainable development and clean energy. As part of the WFES conference agenda, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be central to a discussion of how to connect industry and technology with opportunities in growth markets across the Middle East and Africa. At WFES, the country will offer insights into how it is working to transform its domestic energy supply to become one of the world's largest producers of renewable energies. "We are very interested to learn more about Saudi Arabia's long-term strategy to build upon its position as the world's largest oil exporter to become a competitive clean energy producer," said Dr. Tareq Emtairah, Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). "The country's renewable energy development strategy for 2032 can inspire new insights into implementation opportunities for the integration of sustainable energy across the Arab region. The Kingdom's energy efficiency potential is among the highest in the MENA region, with real results attainable in meeting energy efficiency targets for transport, industrial and residential energy use.” “Saudi Arabia's diversification plans are bold, and we are beginning to see an upturn in investment and deployment activity from the country,” he added. “Becoming a domestic clean energy power house will require a robust, sustained roll-out plan and smart investments into latest-generation clean technology. Saudi Arabia's participation at the World Future Energy Summit underscores the country's commitment to advancing the development of clean energy across the region. The next few years will be critical to the success of that goal.” WFES anchors ADSW, which includes the International Water Summit (IWS), supported by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), and EcoWaste, in association with Tadweer, Abu Dhabi's Centre of Waste Management. The fifth assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency and the seventh Zayed Future Energy Prize Awards ceremony will also take place during ADSW. — SG
