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WFES Begins on
a Confident Note

The four-day summit began with a call to countries across the globeto work unitedly in evolving solutions to the challenges of climate change, depleting fossil fuel reserves and other environmental hazards.

The CEO of Madar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who welcomed the delegates, set the tone for the debates by saying that despite recession threats, the renewable energy sector had attracted an investment of $155 billion last year.

Power generation from solar units grew by 70 per cent last year, while wind power increased by 29 per cent.

The meeting of the Preparatory Commission of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) held here on Sunday drew the attendance of all 139 countries who are signatories to the Agency Treaty.

More countries including major oil producing countries are joining the IRENA.

This shows the widespread acceptance of renewable energy. The renewables are increasingly being accepted not only as environment friendly energy forms,but as economically attractive propositions, Dr Al Jaber asserted.

“We cannot afford to falter in our explorations for renewable energy forms. But we will also have to have to continue to use other forms of energies like fossil fuels and nuclear fuel in properly balanced energy mix,” he said.

Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Republic of Maldives, said radical policy changes are required to reduce the carbon emission by persuading all the countries to switch over to sustainable energy forms. Emphasising on the need for global tie-ups in the area of renewables, Prince of Asturias Felipe de Borbón y Grecia, Crown Prince of Spain, said the issues that are being faced by the humanity are global and they call for global responses.

The presence of His Highness General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, added to the excitement of the opening session. Even though the Crown Prince who is the patron of the event did not speak at the opening session, he posed for joint photographs with the speakers.

President Karolos Papoulias, President of the Hellenic Republic, Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, Prime Minister, Republic of Turkey, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister, Malaysia, and Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian, Denmark, were among those who spoke at the inaugural session. More than 98 government delegations led by Heads of State, Royalty, Prime Ministers and Ministers and over 1,400 CEOs, are attending the energy summit.

The WFES sessions this year include discussions around the outcomes of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the business case for renewable energy, the latest technologies in renewable power generation, the emerging industry in carbon capture and storage, and the growing prospects for employment in the future energy sector.

More than 160 of the world’s largest Solar power companies including ABB, Suntech, GE Energy, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Brisban Solar, Azur Solar, SolarOne, Canadian Solar, Oerlikon Solar, BP Alternative Energy, Acciona, Yingli Green Energy, Solaria and Terna Energy are showcasing their products and services at the exhibition arranged as part of the World Future Energy Summit.

Companies engaged in other forms of renewables like wind and geothermal are also taking part in the exhibition.

· ramavarman@khaleejtimes.com