Gulf Industry Fair 2018, the Northern Gulf's leading business-to-business industrial show, is set to launch a new initiative for the renewable energy sector next year - The Solar Utilities Network (SUN).

The SUN, which will promote a network of expertise and provide a knowledge exchange for those in the solar and renewable energy sectors, is supported by the Bahrain Solar Association and the Bahrain Industrial Association, said the event organisers Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE).

It is being launched in conjunction with the Gulf Industry Fair 2018, the GCC’s annual industrial event to be held from February 6 to 8 under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre.

"The SUN initiative will contribute to the growing awareness of how solar power will affect industry and the society and the commercial opportunities for both users and suppliers," remarked Jubran Abdulrahman the managing director of HCE.

"The solar power renewable energy opportunities are expanding rapidly in the GCC," said Abdulrahman.

"Solar power in the Gulf is becoming a viable option, for energy diversification strategies. The movement away from traditional carbon-based energy sources is also creating a requirement for reskilling of the workforce," he added.

The SUN forum will cover topics surrounding the solar energy policies that will be implemented by the governments in the GCC countries.  

"Solar energy is of global interest and the network is organised against the backdrop of an exhibition looking at products and services promoting industrial development," observed exhibition director Ahmed Suleiman.

"So, it is important that the network event also looks at issues such as photovoltaic solar systems, energy storage and the implementation of the solar system for industrial use," he added.

The event will take place on the second day of the expo (February 7).-TradeArabia News Service