Masdar aims to boost UAE's green energy ties with Asia

Masdar, which was established in 2006, is a commercially-driven enterprise operating across the full spectrum of the renewable energy and sustainable technology industry. Masdar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Government-owned Mubadala Development Company, a catalyst for the economic diversification of the emirate. In an email interview, Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, chief executive of Masdar, talks about the three-day WFES 2012 event and what to expect from it. Excerpts: Gulf News: What are the highlights of WFES 2012? Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber: We are very excited about the fifth annual World Future Energy Summit (WFES). A major highlight will be the return of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He has chosen WFES 2012 as the platform to launch the UN Initiative — the International Year of Sustainable Energy for all. It is a decision that exemplifies Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for collaboration in renewable energy and clean technology. The theme for this year's summit is also an interesting one — Powering Sustainable Innovation. As the global demand for energy continues to escalate, it is innovation which will transform our traditionally fossil fuel-based energy into a diverse mix featuring renewable and sustainable energy sources. What is Masdar's role in WFES 2012? As Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted renewable energy company, and host for the World Future Energy Summit, Masdar plays an integral role in WFES. For the past five years, Masdar has provided the backdrop for the conference, providing a crucial platform to address the global need to find energy solutions that are both secure and sustainable. With each summit we look to build on the last, and we are confident that the programme, speakers and participants will ensure that the fifth WFES is certainly one to remember. What is Masdar eager to achieve during WFES 2012? At the heart of WFES is the promotion of innovation and investment in renewable energy technologies and developing the partnerships which are often necessary to make this a reality. There is a particularly strong presence by Asian leaders at WFES 2012 and we hope that this will foster collaboration between companies from the UAE and Asia, which is a key emerging market in the renewable energy space. In addition, WFES is an opportunity to showcase the accomplishments and plan for the future. We have several exciting announcements planned for the World Future Energy Summit, which will help to shape Masdar's goals and milestones for 2012. What role does the World Future Energy Summit play? The World Future Energy Summit demonstrates Abu Dhabi's emergence as an international renewable energy hub. Over the last five years, the event has quickly become a "must attend" event for industry leaders, governments, entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the world. WFES is a symbol of Abu Dhabi's strategic focus to discover and develop the technologies that will power a cleaner tomorrow. The event promotes innovation, global collaboration and investment opportunities in renewable energy and clean technology and provides an unrivalled business platform bringing together project owners and solution providers with investors and buyers from both the public and private sectors.