The Deputy Director of Business Development Middle East, Alvaro Solana, represented Abengoa in a session on sustainable energy transition through solar technology.
Abengoa, an international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the infrastructure, energy and water sectors, participated last October 4 in the session «Driving towards sustainable energy transition using solar technology», within the framework of Expo Dubai 2020, which is currently being held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), until March 31, 2022.
Abengoa was represented by Álvaro Solana, Deputy Director of Business Development for the Middle East, who explained that solar technology, both photovoltaic and solar thermal, will be key to achieving the goals set for 2030 and 2050 to decarbonize the world’s energy matrix.
Álvaro Solana also pointed out that the Arabian Peninsula holds a privileged position in the race for the development of renewable energies, since it has, among other things, primary resources (sun and wind) and an attractive political and regulatory framework for receiving foreign investment. For all these reasons, it is possibly one of the regions with the greatest potential to become an exporter of green energy to the rest of the world.
This session, which analyzed the possibilities of solar technology in the world and especially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was part of the theme week dedicated to climate and biodiversity, organized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Throughout the six months of Expo Dubai, the most important challenges and opportunities for humanity will be explored through different theme weeks, from a cultural, social, environmental and economic lens.
These panel discussions have counted with the participation of other recognized experts in the sector such as Dr. Yahya R. Hidayat, Director of Energy Resources, Minerals and Mining of the Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia, or Donato Azzarone, Head of Renewable Techniques at Eni Renewables.
Abengoa supports the National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, which has launched UAE, a country where it has been present for more than a decade, developing, building and successfully operating unique projects in the world in the energy and water sector. These include the 3×200 MW parabolic trough solar field currently under construction in Dubai, part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest solar complex in the world. It is also continuing with the construction of the world’s largest solar-gas hybrid plant, Waad Al-Shamal, which will have a 1,390 MW combined cycle and a 50 MW parabolic trough solar field, located in the northeastern region of Saudi Arabia.
Abengoa is a world leader in both technological capacity and installed capacity in solar thermal technology, having developed, designed, built and/or operated solar thermal plants on four continents with a total capacity of 1.9 GW, representing approximately 30 % of capacity worldwide.
Alvaro Solana (right) during his participation in Expo Dubai 2020
