Leading industry pioneers from around the world gathered today (November 27) at a high-profile summit in Dubai held as part of The Big 5 construction expo to highlight the growing importance of solar solutions in the urban sector.

The Global Solar Leaders’ Summit was held under the topical theme ‘Solar Solutions for Construction’, on the sidelines of The Big 5 Solar, which concludes on November 29. It brought together industry decision makers and thought leaders to assess the future of solar in the GCC region.

The second edition of The Big 5 Solar which opened in Dubai brings solar solutions to construction. Showcasing solar technologies from leading PV manufacturing countries, it is a premier event for solar industry professionals to network, learn and do business in the Middle East.

Etihad Esco CEO Ali Mohammed Al Jassim, Masdar Clean Energy Director (Business Development) Yousif Al Ali, Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (Director) Demand Side Management Faisil Rashid; Acwa Power Chief Investment Officer Rajit Nanda and Dubai Carbon, Centre of Excellence CEO Ivano Ianelli were among the many high profile speakers at the event.

In his opening remarks, Chris Kilbee, the senior VP at dmg events, said: "Much of the energy consumption in the region is driven by urban spaces: The residential sector is responsible for the consumption of almost 47 per cent of the GCC’s total energy, against a global average of 25 per cent."

"If we consider that there are more than 23,000 active construction projects in the GCC right now, we understand that it is extremely important for the solar and the construction industries to join forces, address current challenges and harness the immense opportunities that lie ahead," he added.

Al Jassim said: "Today, Etihad Esco is leading the region in energy efficiency. We saved Dubai Dh40 million in 2016/17 through retrofitting and our success story has made an echo around the globe."

"We have a plan and target to retrofit 30,000 buildings - a target of 2,000 per year. No other city has put such a challenging target but we have a path, a goal, a plan. The target is 30 per cent by 2030; it’s just a matter of time," stated the top official.

"We are also talking about building labeling. Every building that has been retrofitted and achieved savings should be recognized. We are working on the operational plan and it will be made public in 2019/20," he added.

To celebrate achievements towards a more sustainable and efficient urban footprint through solar solutions, dmg events presented two awards at the summit. The Global Green Ambassador Award to Obaid Amrane, Member of the Management Board, Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), and the Global Solar Leaders’ Award to Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.

Belén Gallego, CEO and co-founder at ATA Insights (Spain), and one of the speakers at the Global Solar Leaders' summit said: “It has never been more important for the solar and construction industries to come together, as distributed solar markets are raising through the ranks to be an important part of the climate change solution."

"This event is a great opportunity for these two industries to meet, discuss and do business," she added.-TradeArabia News Service