Dubai: Mr. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has inaugurated the first Middle East and North Africa Solar Conference (MENA SC).
The conference was organized by DEWA in collaboration with the IEEE Electron Device Society from November 15 to 18, 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Center.
The conference is the first scientific and technical conference of its kind in the region, with the participation of prominent experts and researchers from 120 universities and research centers from 38 countries around the world to discuss over 200 research papers in various fields of solar energy.
The inauguration was attended by Mr. Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of DEWA, Mr. Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Mr. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company Group (ENOC), Mr. Ahmed Bin Shafar, CEO of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), and several officials from the public and private sectors.
Mr. Al Tayer emphasized that this significant event stands as a beacon of innovation and progress in advancing solar energy technologies, representing a crucial step toward the shared goal of sustainable energy solutions.
Mr. Al Tayer remarked that, “Taking place in the Year of Sustainability in UAE and in conjunction with the UAE’s hosting of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the inauguration of this MENA Solar Conference resonates profoundly with DEWA’s unwavering commitment to lead Dubai’s global position in renewable and clean energy. It supports DEWA’s efforts in innovation, research, and development in this sector aligning with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100 percent of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.”
MENA SC focuses on six research areas in solar power. They include unconventional and new concepts for future technologies, silicon photovoltaic materials and devices, perovskite and organic materials, PV module and system reliability in the MENA region, solar resources for PV and forecasting, and power electronics and grid integration.
“In today’s world, sustainability and clean energy are of utmost importance, playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change and reducing environmental impact. Solar energy, being abundant and renewable, offers numerous benefits beyond just power generation. It serves as a catalyst for innovation, economic growth, and environmental preservation driving the need for robust research and development in the field. Over the coming few days, we’ll have the privilege of hearing from some of the brightest minds, experts, specialists, and researchers from around the world, gathered under one roof to deliberate, share insights, and explore the latest developments, technologies, and scientific research in the solar energy field,” Mr. Al Tayer added.