RAK Energy Summit 2023 Concludes With Strong Government Commitment To Climate Action And Sustainability Initiatives

The RAK Energy Summit concluded at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Center in Ras Al Khaimah. It gathered key decision-makers and experts from the UAE and globally for two days of discussions on sustainability, renewable energy, and decarbonisation. The event aimed to support global conversations on these critical topics.

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the Summit. The event highlighted both local and international efforts in energy transition. Eng. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, shared insights on the UAE's energy transition strategy.

Suhail Al Mazrouei emphasised the importance of adopting sustainable practices to achieve net zero by mid-century. He stated: "As the world strives to reach net zero by mid-century, developing and adopting the latest sustainability practices and solutions that support the energy transition has become a top priority on the world’s agenda."

Yousif Al Ali, CEO of Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), expressed commitment to leading renewable energy efforts in the UAE. He said, "As we proudly stand as the lead partner for the second edition of RAK Energy Summit... we at EtihadWE are committed to leading the transition towards renewable and sustainable energy in the UAE and beyond."

The summit showcased pivotal projects like Naqa’a RO Plant, Khuraijah Water Distribution Centre, Distributed Solar System (DSS), and AMI Smart Meters project. These initiatives are central to achieving climate neutrality goals and enhancing energy efficiency across GCC countries.

Andrea Di Gregorio from Ras Al Khaimah Municipality presented plans for energy transition in Ras Al Khaimah. He announced upgrades to their strategy focusing on decarbonisation, environment protection, energy efficiency, and renewables.

International Contributions

The second day featured international speakers like Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim from Saudi Arabia discussing regional grid integration. Lucas Boehlé from France spoke on global energy efficiency trends while Anne Dekeukelaere from Switzerland addressed cement industry decarbonisation.

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced winners of the 8th edition UAE Energy Management Awards for 2024. Abu Dhabi Distribution Company secured first place with ENOC Corporate Real Estate and Al Futtaim Real Estate following.

Industry Initiatives

A significant announcement was made about the National Industry Sustainability Initiative by MoEI and MoIAT. This included launching the UAE Industry Registry Platform to implement Federal Energy Management Regulation in Industrial Facilities.

The programme also featured presentations from Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and RAKGAS along with technology showcases by EDF Group and Schneider Electric. Discussions covered future fuels, energy carriers, and sustainability in hospitality.

Commitment to Sustainability

Dharmesh Sawant from Hisense HVAC stated: "Sustainability drives innovation at Hisense HVAC... We proudly support RAK Energy Summit." Simon Huber from Innovia Films added: "We align with the vision of RAK Energy Summit... Promoting awareness is essential to encouraging adoption."

The summit was hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Municipality with EtihadWE as Lead Partner. It was supported by various entities including UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, IRENA, among others.

With inputs from WAM