World Leaders, Luminaries, Companies and Businessmen Descend on Abu Dhabi For the 6th edition of the World’s Largest Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition
[Abu Dhabi] – This week, world leaders, government officials and delegations, business executives, academics, engineers, scientists and many more will converge for the World Future Energy Summit 2013, part of Abu Dhabi’s Sustainability Week. But while the conversation tomorrow will be all about renewable technologies and the world’s future energy resources, a different type of energy has gripped this city in advance of the commencement of WFES ’13 on Tuesday.
Abu Dhabi’s media and citizens alike are buzzing with pride about the upcoming events surrounding Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the world’s largest and most visible series of events for the global clean energy sector. Although this emirate was built with oil, it sees its continued growth tied to the next generation of power sources.
Not far from Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Center, where construction crews and companies today were putting final touches on impressive pavilions and over-the-top displays of their green prowess, sits Masdar City, an experiment of sorts in sustainable green business. As a special economic zone and “greentech cluster,” the area bills itself as “one of the most sustainable communities on the planet” and is designed to provide a “quality of life to rival that of any world-class city – while also being uncompromisingly sustainable.” Masdar City is now operational, but not yet complete.
The existence of Masdar City bolsters Abu Dhabi’s reputation as more than just a host to a fleeting conference. 30,000 are expected to visit the emirate to participate in a showcase of the best technologies, ideas, and companies that the clean energy sector has to offer. The conference and exhibition will feature the latest in renewable energy technology and ideas, and provide a stage for energy companies of all sizes to demonstrate and promote their products.
Joining them will be world leaders like French President François Hollande, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain and others as the world of energy will be focused on Abu Dhabi.
With Masdar as a host, WFES ’13 will be held from January 15-17. WFES 2013 is co-located with the inaugural International Water Summit and also hosts the biennial International Renewable Energy Conference.
Now in its 6th year, the World Future Energy Summit, “comprises a world-class conference, a large-scale exhibition, and an annual celebration of the winners of Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Future Energy Prize, which recognizes global achievement in the fields of renewable energy and sustainable development, along with the Project and Finance Village, the Young Future Energy Leaders program, roundtable discussions, and various corporate events and social engagements,” according to the event’s organizer, Reed Exhibitions.
For the first time ever, the World Future Energy Summit will host a green jobs fair, specifically for companies and individuals looking to increase their professional involvement in the green energy sector.
According to a statement quoted in Gulf News, more than $8 billion of international clean-tech and renewable energy projects will be displayed at the Project and Finance Village during the WFES. Not to be outdone by clean-tech startups, major oil companies like ADNOC, Total, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Qatar Petroleum are major sponsors of the event.
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For more information on WFES ’13, visit worldfutureenergy.com