Sean Gibson, the Managing Director of AltGen Recruitment and Consulting, had the privilege of attending the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi recently, and experienced first-hand the expansion of renewable energy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in general. Of particular interest where the Zayed Future Energy prize, and Saudi Arabia’s plans in the RE space.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a $ 4 million annual prize awarded as a legacy of the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan. Several categories receive recognition, including a single prize of $ 500 000, the Lifetime Achievement Award awarded annually to a champion of innovation in energy, this year won by Lu Junfeng of China an outspoken advocate of Renewable Energy in his home country. There are also 5 prizes of $ 100 000 each awarded to high schools in 5 different global regions, the winners in the Africa region in 2017 being the Starehe Girls Centre and School, close to Nairobi, Kenya. AltGen congratulates you!
Zayed Future Energy Prize Winners 2017
In terms of Solar PV development, Saudi Arabia was notable as one among a number of announcements: a 9.5 GW renewable energy target to be installed by 2023 (6 years from now) as the first stage of its RE program, Vision 2030, which was announced early in 2016.
All in all, the conference was an unmitigated success. AltGen looks forward to working with all of its partners in the GCC states and in UAE in particular.
