ABU DHABI — World Energy Congress supports and inspires the leaders, innovators and thinkers of tomorrow.

During the fourth and final day of the 24th World Energy Congress, the session ‘Startup Energy Transition: The Power of the Bold’ saw a panel of experts – among them the winners of this year’s Startup Energy Transition Award – debate, discuss and predict the most pressing energy challenges the world will face in years to come.

Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation & The Future, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), joined the delegates to consider the new business models, technologies and ideas that will be at the forefront of the industry’s ongoing transition.

Bin Haidar explained that all companies must “innovate or stagnate” and that incorporating brave and bold new ideas developed by startups is key to a successful future for established firms.

“The company receives new, bold ideas and solutions while the start-ups can benefit from years of experience and understanding of the industry,” said Bin Haidar. “In this way, everyone benefits.”

Andreas Kulmann, Chief Executive of the German energy company Deutsche Energie-Agentur, echoed Bin Haidar’s comments, adding that for startups “being bold is one thing, but being smart is another”.

“Discovering what is important for all partners and what is important for the market can be difficult, but if startups are smart, bold and very well prepared to grow and develop collaboration, they and their partners will flourish,” he said.

At the session ‘Pitch perfect: Best of the Startup Energy Transition (SET)’, Michele Fiorentino, Chief Investment Officer, ADNOC, joined a panel of judges to consider the ideas set out by SET finalists to discover the next global game-changing idea or invention for the energy sector.

An interactive, energetic and highly engaging event, the SET finalists were challenged to outline the benefits of their idea, its practical uses and why investors should get behind them as part of a professional pitch.

Start Up Energy Transition (SET) is a global innovation platform supporting disruption in energy transition. Selected from a total of 450 applications from 80 countries, 10 startup finalists pitched their innovative ideas to stakeholders, investors and members of the business community.

Included in the final 10 were Germany-based zero emissions company ONO, and home renewables business DC Power Company Limited from Australia.

“Improving urban mobility while facilitating faster delivery of goods is ONO’s aim,” said Veronica Louis, ONO’s Chief Communications Officer. “Our Pedal Assisted Transporter (PAT) improves access in crowded cities and boroughs while also reducing emissions, pollution and congestion.”

Emma Jenkins, Co-Founder and CFO at DC Power Company Limited, explained how the company places households with solar panels at the center of today’s power transition.

“Individual households will be able to trade energy with the market resulting in an increased transition to renewables,” she added.

Khalifa Hassan Alforah Alshamsi, Etisalat’s Group Chief Corporate Strategy & Governance Officer, in his keynote address, explained how the newest generation of mobile technology can be harnessed to promote sustainability in the energy sector.

His address titled ‘Leveraging 5G to drive sustainability and enable innovation in the energy sector’ outlined how improved communication between individuals, companies and entities, including greater access to information and better utilization of the internet, can boost the ongoing drive towards sustainability.

Alshamsi said: “5G is a new piece of technology that can revolutionize new industry. It is not only about speed but yes it will be phenomenal for VR and AR experiences.”

“5G is a fundamental tool that will benefit cities, countries, factories and refineries because 5G is the cornerstone for industry and key for the future of digital,” he noted.

“To make the most of what 5G can offer, it is all about collaboration and innovation. This will not happen by just sitting down in the office. We have to connect our minds together and have to experiment. We can do anything if we have the will,” Alshamsi stressed.

Russia deputy prime minister invites experts to 25th world energy congress in 2022

Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, flew to Abu Dhabi and personally invited the thousands of global experts to the 25th World Energy Congress in 2022 in St Petersburg.

The audience witnessed a presentation that highlights the vision of Russia and the energy sectors and what to expect three years from now in St Petersburg.

Kozak said Abu Dhabi has set the benchmark for success, but Russia will strive to exceed expectations at the 25th World Energy Congress while building on the solid foundations that have been laid by the UAE capital over the last four days. – SG