“Dubai to host Energy Storage Forum 2023: Transition towards Clean Energy Sources in GCC Countries”

DUBAI, 21st May, 2020 (WAM) — Dubai will host the second session of the Energy Storage Forum 2023, under the theme “The Current Transition towards Clean Energy Sources in the GCC Countries, leading up to the COP28 Climate Conference.”

The forum will be held from May 23 to 25 at the Sofitel Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It represents a milestone in advancing plans to create a global flexible infrastructure for energy storage and regulation. It is the result of a strategic collaboration between the GCC Interconnection Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute, a prominent international non-profit organization specialized in energy research and development.

The forum is being held at a time when the world is continuing great efforts and transformations towards a carbon-neutral future. It is also organized in light of the optimistic view of the battery power systems market in the Middle East and Africa, which will witness growth rates, according to a report issued by the “Mordurant Intelligence” company, that will exceed 5.2% during the period from 2023 to 2028.

To address the challenges and opportunities that arise as a result of the global transition to a carbon-neutral world, the prestigious global event brings under one roof the leading players in the sector from across the Middle East and the world. It involves energy system operators, energy storage developers, researchers, service providers and others.

The forum also includes officials from the electricity and water authorities from the GCC countries, to discuss prospects for developing the energy storage sector and ways to support the transformation of the energy sector to achieve sustainability and decarbonization in the region.

Engineer Ahmed Al-Ibrahim, CEO of the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority, said that the Energy Storage Forum 2023 provides a unique opportunity for global participants to discuss trends, policies, technologies and innovations related to renewable resources, such as solar energy, renewable energy and related sectors. During the forum, we will shed light on a number of important issues that affect the GCC countries and that contribute to making the region at the forefront of creating a carbon-neutral economy. From energy transition policies to hydrogen and energy storage, we made sure to cover key issues in line with the ambitious decarbonization goals in the GCC and globally.

Al-Ibrahim added: We are confident that the forum will act as an important catalyst to accelerate the adoption of energy storage solutions and pave the way for a carbon neutral world. It is appropriate that the forum be held in the UAE, as it is home to many pioneering projects in the field of energy storage, at a time when it continues to intensify its efforts to achieve sustainable development according to the vision and directives of the wise leadership.

For his part, Arshad Mansour, President and CEO of the Electric Energy Research Institute, said that the Energy Storage Forum is an opportunity to discuss how energy storage can help enhance our renewable energy resources despite exposure to weather and climate conditions. Noting that Dubai’s commitment to sustainability makes it ideal to host this gathering. Great. Holding the forum in the UAE will contribute to the development of dialogue on energy storage and shaping the future of the global energy scene.

New means of energy storage, in particular lithium-ion batteries, have greatly improved cost and performance, thus opening many new opportunities for energy storage. With continuous innovations, battery storage capacity for stationary energy systems is expected to increase from an annual utilization rate of 5.5%. gigawatts in 2020 to 26.2 gigawatts in 2025. As the adoption of lithium-ion battery storage technologies increases, new technologies continue to emerge supported by the growing demand for enhanced safety as well as available and environmentally responsible supply chains.

The three-day event will address these and other issues through interactive panel sessions and technical workshops on the fundamentals driving the energy transition and energy storage.