Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Saudi Minister of Energy, toured the Saudi pavilion during the first day of the 24th edition of the World Energy Congress (WEC). The flagship event is being held in Abu Dhabi for the first time in the Middle East, on Sep. 9-12 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). ACWA Power, a global leader in water desalination and power generation joined over 15,000 attendees and 66 ministers at this year's World Energy Congress (WEC) to highlight ACWA Power's position as a global total solution provider across the power and water sectors. On the sidelines of the Congress, ACWA Power signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), inaugurating the KAUST – ACWA Power Center of Excellence for Desalination and Solar Power. The KAUST – ACWA Power Center of Excellence will prioritize research in water quality monitoring and system performance modeling using several KAUST research centers. The collaboration between ACWA Power and KAUST marks the beginning of a long-term research and innovation alliance between the two organizations that will place the Kingdom at the forefront of international scientific advancements in water desalination and solar-power technology. Commenting on the occasion, Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, said: "We are honored to be part of the Saudi energy platform within the Kingdom's pavilion as a proud Saudi company that is very much at the forefront of the energy transition globally. We are happy to share our experiences with global leaders and exchange ideas in pursuit of sustainable energy for the development of people, communities and nations. This is very much the model we follow at ACWA Power as we partner with communities with our long term thinking and value proposition based on exceling at every aspect of the value chain. Our focus is situated towards the crucial themes of the congress, including energy security, promoting environmental sustainability, and the deployment of innovative technologies that elevate efficiencies of energy systems – themes that ACWA Power has pioneered through its effective models and experiences in projects and businesses across three continents. We are looking forward to sharing our leading models with the global energy industry as a proof on the capabilities and role of the Saudi economy in powering and achieving the theme of the Congress, "Energy for Prosperity". To share ACWA Power's expertise with fellow industry leaders, Mohammad Abunayyan took part in a panel session titled "Financing Energy: Closing the clean energy investment gap". Similarly, Paddy Padmanathan, President and CEO of ACWA Power, participated in a panel discussion on "Scaling new heights: Global Renewables Outlook" which addressed the opportunities, challenges, and solutions to the most pressing energy issues the world faces today. As part of its participation at the World Energy Congress 2019, ACWA Power elaborated on its role as a fully integrated solutions provider for the power and water sector worldwide. This includes the deployment of renewable energy technologies such as concentrated solar power and thermal storage technology as well as clean coal and carbon capture. The company also highlighted its work in the sustainable development of countries around the world and its program to invests in enhancing the local employment and talents in the communities it operates in. ACWA Power has been an active supporter and partner for the World Energy Council that host the World Energy Congress. The World Energy Congress is one of the world's largest and longest-running, international energy related event. This edition will mark the first time the Congress has been hosted in the Middle East, and it offers a unique platform for global energy leaders to explore new energy futures, critical innovation areas and new strategies. — SG
