Big Oil Goes Green

World Future Energy Summit 2013, Abu Dhabi, Jan. 15–17

By Molly Brennan A

bu Dhabi, one of the seven semiautonomous emir- ates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the UAE’s capital, is a place of contrasts.

Soaring skyscrapers dominate its skyline, yet Bedouin traditions are strongly evident. A glitzy Formula 1 racetrack entertains spectators on one side of the city, while dusty camel racing takes place on another. And although Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s leading oil producers, it is also a hub for the renewable-energy industry. Indeed, every year the city hosts the foremost international meeting dedicated to renewable energies. Each January, policy makers, industry leaders, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, environmentalists, and media from around the globe gather in Abu Dhabi — atop one of the world’s deepest reserves of oil and natural gas — for the World Future Energy Summit (WFES). The meeting provides a high-profile forum to discuss renewable-energy policies and showcase the latest sustainable technology and solutions. Since launching five years ago, WFES has become a must-attend event for the renewable-energy industry; this year the show drew nearly 30,000 attendees and saw 70 product launches. “It’s the premier event in the region,” said Benjamin Yu, business development director at Wuxi, China– based Suntech, the world’s largest producer of solar panels, “and that’s why we’re here every year.” Convene was there this year as well, at the invitation of the

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, whose Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) hosted WFES 2013, to experience the increasingly influential show and see exactly how big oil goes green.

SAVE YOURSELF, SAVE THE PLANET Abu Dhabi, which pumps out nearly 3 million barrels of oil a day, may seem like a surprising player in the renewable- energy arena. But the emirate has invested heavily in nuclear- and renewable-energy alternatives, and is working to position itself as a leader in clean technology. “The world must work together to address energy and water access, food security, and tackle the consequences of climate change,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince

70 PCMA CONVENE APRIL 2013

Winds of Change The World Future Energy Summit brought together 650 exhibitors from 40 countries — including China- based Goldwind International, which manufactures wind turbines.

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