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DAY 1 | 14 JANUARY 2025 Today 01
ADSW 2025 opens with focus on energy transformation and AI His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar officially opened the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) today. The UAE’s transformative moment, said Dr Jaber, is the "Nexus of Next," driven by the growth of AI. “Battery storage is the fastest growing energy technology in the world today. A record 100GW of storage will be added to the grid this year. Yet, this represents a tiny fraction of the overall power demand that is being driven by the megatrends, and especially the surge in AI,” he said. “The Nexus of Next means putting people at the heart of progress,” he concluded.
His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar gave the keynote address on the opening day.
Innovations
Renewable energy
Harnessing digital technologies
Addressing intermittency
Tackling water scarcity
IRENA Innovation Day on Digitalisation and AI for the Energy Transition, which took place on 14 January, brought together a diverse mix of policymakers and innovators from the region and internationally, to explore how digitalisation – using technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Digital Twins – can accelerate the energy transition.
Masdar and EWEC announced the world’s first gigascale 24/7 renewable energy project at the World Future Energy Summit. The solution, which addresses the issue of intermittency, combines solar power and battery storage to deliver green, uninterrupted energy 24/7, cementing the UAE’s position as a leader and pioneer in advanced technology and renewable energy.
H.E. Eng. Ahmed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary Assistant for Electricity, Water & Future Energy Sector, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE, kicked off the Water Conference by emphasising the criticality of this topic which has become “one of the most important national priority issues.”
Giving a keynote address, Dr Roland Roesch, Director of the IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre in Bonn, said, “Digitalisation is a key enabler and accelerator of this transformation, enabling real time decision making, enhancing operational operational efficiency and creating new opportunities for energy consumers and producers alike.”
“Energy and sustainability are not opposing forces. They are essential partners.”
Water
“Managing the resource nexus effectively is key to ensuring long-term sustainability and securing the world's water, energy, and food needs in the face of growing demand and climate challenges,” he added. “The UAE is working toward addressing water-energy-food challenges through integrated resources planning, circular economy approaches, and investing in innovative solutions to ensure equitable access to water, energy, and food for its present and future generations.”