The World Utilities Congress 2024 has successfully concluded after three impactful days in Abu Dhabi, where over 12,000 industry leaders and professionals gathered to discuss the future of the utilities sector. The event highlighted vital energy transition topics such as decoupling emissions from economic growth, enhancing grid resilience, and boosting renewable energy capacity.
With a robust agenda, the congress attracted more than 1,400 delegates, 280 speakers, and 180 exhibitors from across the globe. The discussions tackled some of the most pressing challenges in the power and water sectors.
One of the key moments occurred on day two during the Ministerial Panel titled “Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity: From Action to Ambition.” Distinguished speakers included H.E. Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Energy; H.E. Nurmammet Nurmammedov, Deputy Minister of Energy for Turkmenistan; Francesco La Camera, Director General of IRENA; and Dr. Adrian Băzăvan, Foreign Affairs Adviser, Romanian Ministry of Energy. They stressed the need for international cooperation, forward-thinking policies, and increased investments to scale renewable energy solutions globally.
Another focal session was the Global Leadership Panel, “Megabytes to Megawatts: Driving Innovation and Efficiency in Power Generation,” which examined long-term strategies for innovation in the energy sector. Among the speakers were Noel Aoun, Chief Strategy Officer at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA); Santiago Bañales López, Managing Director of Iberdrola Innovation Middle East; and others. Discussions explored how digital technologies can be leveraged to secure future energy systems.
Santiago Bañales López expressed his views on the congress, stating: “It has been a great privilege being part of the World Utilities Congress 2024 Executive Committee.
The debates of the strategic agenda, and the level of the speakers, will be shaping the future evolution of the global energy system. I am convinced of the success of the congress in increasing awareness and facilitating effective cooperation between every player to achieve our ambitious common goals.”
On day three, a notable highlight was the Global Leadership Panel “Unlocking the Low-Carbon Hydrogen Economy,” where experts like Nawal Alhanaee from the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and Frank Wouters of the MENA Hydrogen Alliance, discussed the game-changing role hydrogen could play in the global energy transition.
Another panel focused on customer-centric solutions in the utilities sector, featuring leaders like Omar Al Hashmi, CEO of Transition and Distribution at TAQA. They emphasised understanding evolving customer demands to drive energy efficiency and improve customer experiences.
The congress also examined storage solutions to combat the intermittency of renewable energy in a session titled “Combatting Intermittency Challenges with Storage and Flexibility Solutions,” featuring Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of Eos Energy Storage, and other experts. Discussions centred on cutting-edge storage technologies that are crucial for stabilizing renewable energy supplies.
The event’s Technical Conference and Clean Tech Innovation Theatre provided platforms for showcasing innovations in energy efficiency, carbon capture, and grid modernization. Start-ups and established companies presented cutting-edge technologies aimed at accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future.
The World Utilities Congress 2024 was not just a space for discussions but a platform where strategic partnerships were formed, and innovative solutions for a sustainable and resilient utilities future were unveiled.