H.E Saeed Mohammed Ahmed Al Tayer, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority's Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, officially opened Intersolar Middle East in Dubai today.

The region’s largest event for the solar industry is part of the Intersolar World Series, and is taking place from 19 to 21 September at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the three-day event, where they will have an opportunity to gain exclusive access to some of the world’s leading minds and emerging technologies in the solar industry.

“Microtron Technologies looks forward to Intersolar Middle East as it presents an excellent opportunity to meet business partners, and build relationships with key players accelerating the shift towards sustainable energy,” said Nasir Khattak, Founder and President, Microtrontec.

“In many ways, the show has become a benchmark for the industry in terms of trends and the outlook for the future, with investment and business decisions often tied to the insights gained at the many workshops and seminars taking place at the event.”  

Middle East nations have been at the forefront of global efforts to diversify away from oil in recent years, and were well represented at last year’s COP-21 climate talks in Paris. In a similar show of solidarity, energy ministers and international experts from across the region convened at the Global Solar Leaders’ Summit for talks on the solar industry. 

The Summit was intended to act as a precursor to Intersolar Middle East, and focused on the topic of ‘Powering a Renewable Energy Future’. The UAE was represented by Taher Diab, Senior Director of Strategy & Planning, Secretary General of the Emirates Energy Award, and member of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

“The Middle East region has understood the compelling value proposition offered by renewable energy to not only deliver cost competitive electricity to feed the growing demand for power while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of the total energy mix but also to create new industrialisation ad employment creating opportunities to support the deployment and maintenance of solar and wind energy facilities. As a significant developer, owner and operator of electricity generation and desalinated water production facilities in the region, we at ACWA Power very strongly support the rapid increase in the uptake of renewable energy by continuing to challenge cost and reduce tariff all the while working I parallel to achieve the social and economic development agenda of the nations of the region.” said Paddy Padmanathan, CEO & Co-Founder,  ACWA Power. 

Other notable attendees to address the Summit include energy ministers from Jordan and Egypt, two countries that have strong commitments to solar energy. They were joined at the Summit by over 200 global influencers, senior government representatives, academia, private sector executives and global institutions.

Intersolar Middle East continues tomorrow with Ben Hill, Vice President for Tesla Energy – Europe and Africa set to give a presentation on how energy storage can revolutionise the solar industry. 

The global market for energy storage is expected to grow to over US$25 billion in the next 10 years, and having developed a fully automated battery for sustainable housing Tesla is one of a number of companies seeking to harnessing batteries and smooth the supply of grid-based and solar generated electricity.

Tesla’s presentation will be delivered at Intersolar Conference in new Za’abeel Hall 6 at Dubai World Trade Centre, on 20 September 2016.