The UAE Ministry of Energy has become the official patron of The Big 5 Solar, a major event scheduled to be held in Dubai for the solar sector, as part of its persistent effort to support the country's 2050 Energy Strategy. 

 

Taking place from November 26 to 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event will feature the third edition of the Global Solar Leader’s Summit (GSLS), which will be opened by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy, Dr Matar Al Neyadi.

 

The Big 5 Solar is organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa. 

 

The ministry is encouraging the public and private sectors to develop innovative IPP (independent power producer) arrangements that are leading to a new wave of large-scale solar projects across the UAE. 

 

“Our energy authorities have progressed at a steady pace in the development of solar energy. Only last year, the UAE achieved a global record with the lowest solar prices achieved through a competitive tendering process. We are also engaging the UAE population to generate demand in household solar energy projects across the nation,” a spokesperson of the UAE Ministry of Energy stated.

 

“Solar energy is a key technology that plays a strategic role in the achievement of the UAE 2050 Energy Strategy, which is the plan that the UAE Ministry of Energy follows to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 per cent. To achieve this, the Ministry of Energy is continuously assessing the feasibility of centralised and distributed solar deployment in the United Arab Emirates,” the ministry said.

 

The ministry recently developed the Emirates Solar web application “Shuaa”, which helps users evaluate any property in the UAE and determine its potential return on investment for the deployment and management of solar panels.

 

“Efforts made by the Ministry of Energy like the National Energy Strategy 2050, aiming to increase the contribution of clean energy capacity, are giving the UAE solar industry huge opportunity to gain momentum,” says Josine Heijmans, portfolio director of The Big 5 Solar. “The Big 5 Solar will provide a mutual business space where industry professionals can source solutions to solar energy in particular, allowing them to take full advantage of the opportunities going forward.”

 

“Our support to events such as The Big 5 Solar 2017 and the third edition of the Global Solar Leaders’ Summit is important as it allows energy stakeholders in the UAE to benchmark their industry and learn from global best practice,” the UAE Ministry of Energy commented. 

 

On November 27, the CPD-certified Global Solar Leaders Summit (GSLS), the only established high-level summit in the Middle East focusing on solar technology, will offer lively debates, clear business-relevant focus groups and a very high degree of interaction. 

 

The summit’s key speakers include Dr Rashid Aleem, chairman of the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, and Dr Nasser Saidi, chairman of the Regional Clean Energy Business Council.

 

Set to become a premier platform for solar industry professionals to network and do business in the Middle East, The Big 5 Solar pursues the escalating green demands in the GCC market by showcasing solar technologies from local and international exhibitors, as well as offering an education agenda geared towards industry development.

 

Speaking about the education agenda, Heijmans says: “Highlighting the latest trends and practices in the solar industry is a means to foresee future challenges faced by the booming industry, opening the floor to practical solutions, and making way for more opportunities to arise.”

 

The event will also feature high-level free-to-attend CPD certified Solar Talks covering topics such as the connection between solar and construction, the impact of VAT on the solar industry, and the role of small and medium enterprises in developing the solar industry.

 

Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, The Big 5 Solar will be co-located with The Big 5 – the largest, most influential and renowned construction industry event in the Middle East. - TradeArabia News Service