24 January 2014: Participants at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) discussed developments and challenges in renewable energy technology deployment, including on: policy; finance; jobs; energy access and poverty; and the water and energy nexus.

At the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar, called for a collective effort to transform economies to become more resilient, productive and efficient, making it possible to achieve “the tremendous potential” for sustainable energy and development. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director-General Adnan Amin welcomed a panel of Heads of State from Senegal, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone to discuss harnessing Africa’s great potential.

During the remainder of the Summit, IRENA organized and participated in a range of events, including: the Global Atlas for Renewable Energy; financing the Africa Clean Energy Corridor; risk coverage for renewable energy investment; a Renewable Energy Ministerial Roundtable; IRENA’s renewable energy project navigator; transitioning towards grid integration and energy storage; renewable energy investment in the Gulf Cooperation Council; renewable energy and jobs; and business models for renewable energy deployment in cities.

The WFES also saw the launch of a new flagship World Bank initiative on interlinked water and energy challenges called ‘Thirsty Energy,’ and the announcement of the 2014 winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The WFES took place as part of the wider Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which convened the International Water Summit and Ecowaste.

The WFES took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 20-22 January 2014. [World Future Energy Summit 2014 Website] [IISD RS Summary of the World Future Energy Summit] [IISD RS Summary of the IRENA Renewable Energy Jobs Conference] [IISD RS Summary of the Fourth Session of the IRENA Assembly] [IISD RS Coverage of the Africa Clean Energy Corridor High-Level Meeting, the Fourth Session of the IRENA Assembly, the World Future Energy Summit 2014, and the IRENA Renewable Energy Jobs Conference] [Zayed Future Energy Prize Website] [IISD RS Story on World Bank ‘Thirsty Energy’ Initiative]