FUELING DEBATE

World Future Energy Summit brings industry, investors to UAE

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to speak at Masdar’s parallel conference on green hydrogen as Gulf state seeks to become production hub

WORLD FUTURE ENERGY SUMMIT

Entry hall at World Future Energy Summit's 2023 edition

Corporate executives and investors are gathering in Abu Dhabi this week for the World Future Energy Summit, where the global response to climate change will top the agenda.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President of COP28, called the conference, which starts on Tuesday, a “crucial platform” for governments and the private sector. Dr. Al Jaber, who is also Chairman of alternative energy company Masdar and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., or ADNOC, said he hopes the conference will drive investments into the world energy transition from carbon-based fuels. 

The UAE is set to put its green bona fides forward as it aims to triple its renewable energy capacity to 30% by 2030 and establish a hub for hydrogen fuel production and distribution in the coming decades.

TAQA, the energy company backed by sovereign wealth fund ADQ, is an anchor partner of the Abu Dhabi summit and will be joined by speakers including Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminum; Ali Tahir Jaffery, Director of Standard Chartered Bank; and Amy Lehoczky, Director of ESG at Abu Dhabi’s AI firm G42. Also appearing will be executives from German giant Siemens and Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power.

Masdar, which last month bought a 50% stake in Terra-Gen, one of the largest private renewable energy producers in the U.S., is also set to host a parallel conference focused on hydrogen.

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to address the conference amid increasing cooperation between the UAE and the UK on developing alternative energies. Masdar is looking to develop or acquire an energy portfolio of at least 100 GW capacity by 2030.

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