S01 WFES Day 3 2015 Start_Layout 1 20/01/2015 17:25 Page 1
OPEN FOR ONE EXTRA DAY TO DO BUSINESS
DAILY NEWS
DAY 3
21st JANUARY 2015
WFES promotes vision of a clean energy future #WFES15
Contents Former US Vice-President Al Gore (back, far left), the recipient of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Lifetime Achievement Award, with other winners at this year’s awards AN ACTION-packed first two days of WFES, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, saw a host of announcements of project launches, business deals and prize winners, while a number of high-level dignitaries have been on site at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre to discuss global and regional energy challenges. Masdar CEO Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, who delivered the keynote speech during Monday’s opening ceremony, stressed the need to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy as a commercially viable technology to meet the world’s rising demand for electricity. “With surging populations, coupled with finite resources, we must pursue all forms of energy, conventional, unconventional and alternative,” stressed Dr. Belhoul. He also addressed the growing momentum in the Middle East to adopt renewable energy. “This region’s appetite for renewable energy has quickly taken shape, with Abu Dhabi taking the first steps almost a decade ago. As our neighbours join us in the race to adopt renewable energy, Masdar’s regional and global experience will reinforce efforts to address energy security through the deployment of renewable power,” he added. Dr. Belhoul concluded his address by emphasising how WFES presented an opportunity to share experiences and forge partnerships that would enable the region and the world to diversify the energy mix. Meanwhile, former US Vice-President Al Gore received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Gore received the award from His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, during the
awards ceremony, held as a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2015. Gore was recognised for his personal and political commitment to raising international awareness of climate change. Gore remarked, “I am grateful to receive this renowned award. Through the work of the Climate Reality Project, the organisation I founded in 2006, we have helped to change the cultural conversation about the climate crisis and, in doing so, created a new generation of determined activists who are working tirelessly for positive change. “Though we have made great progress, there is much work yet to be done.” His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, director-general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said, “Al Gore has been one of the most influential figures in the history of climate change negotiations. As an activist and environmentalist, he has played a pivotal role in putting climate change at the forefront of the global political agenda.” Gore said he would donate the US$500,000 prize he received to the volunteers of The Climate Reality Project, which trains activists to speak publicly about the effects of climate change and ways to address it. Liter of Light, a project in partnership with PepsiCo that brings cost-effective solar lighting solutions to communities in need while recycling plastic bottles, was another big winner on the night, winning in the Non-Profit Organization category. Other winners included Panasonic Corporation in the Large Corporation category and M-KOPA Solar in the SME category. Submissions and nominations for the 2016 edition of the prize have already opened at www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com.
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News and views from WFES so far Danish firm brings power solutions Ideas and solutions for the solar sector The line up for today’s conference Efficiency on the Germany Pavilion Tidal steam turbine hits the market The best photos from Day Two
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