Abu Dhabi, UAE: The 18th World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2026, underway at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and hosted by Masdar, continued to deliver tangible outcomes on its second day, with a series of major deals, announcements and strategic partnerships underscoring its role as a catalyst for global clean energy progress.
The largest and most ambitious edition to date, the Summit has brought together global leaders, policymakers, investors and innovators from more than 150 countries at a critical juncture in the global energy transition. With expanded conferences, next-generation technology showcases and new engagement formats, the event highlighted how collaboration is accelerating real-world change across the clean energy ecosystem.
A key session focused on agrivoltaics—the dual use of land for solar power generation and agriculture—exploring its potential to enhance food security, improve rural livelihoods and support climate resilience, particularly in arid and desert regions. Organised by Greenpeace MENA, the discussion examined the geo-economic trade-offs and policy frameworks needed to scale dual land-use solutions across the Middle East and North Africa amid rising land pressures and climate risks.
Opening the session, Her Excellency Cláudia Pinto, Founder of Empowering Women Middle East and Head of Sustainability for His Highness Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emphasised the importance of aligning energy transition goals with responsible governance and long-term resilience. “The future will not be determined only by how much clean energy we produce, but by how wisely we govern systems that sustain lives,” she said.
Highlighting regional opportunities, Dr Hamed Hanifi, Director of Technology and Innovation at AE Solar, described agrivoltaics as one of the most promising global solutions to address land and resource constraints. “As land becomes more limited and food prices rise, dual land use allows communities to produce food and clean energy simultaneously, maximising overall efficiency,” he noted.
Day two also witnessed several high-profile partnership announcements. Savvy Charging Technologies and Pioneer eMobility signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture aimed at accelerating the adoption of on-demand, mobile EV charging solutions across the UAE and the wider MENA region.
“We chose the UAE for our first international expansion because it is strategically positioned for the next wave of EV growth,” said Geo Murickan, President and CEO of Pioneer eMobility. Muhammad Jamal, CEO of Savvy Charging Technologies, added that on-demand EV charging would play a key role in supporting residents without access to fixed charging infrastructure, thereby accelerating EV adoption.
In another significant development, the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) signed an MoU to accelerate solar energy expansion in key markets, including India and Egypt, leveraging ISA’s sector expertise and ITA’s industrial transition capabilities.
Meanwhile, Infinity Power, Africa’s largest renewable energy company, announced the signing of a Letter of Award with Hithium for the supply of batteries for the Nefer Benban Battery Storage Project in Aswan, Egypt. With a total capacity of 120 MWh, the project supports Egypt’s renewable energy ambitions and Infinity Power’s goal of achieving 10 GW of operational projects by 2030.
Academic and research collaboration also featured prominently, with the Universities of Leicester and Sharjah launching a joint project funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The initiative aims to reduce the energy footprint of large buildings using AI-driven digital twins across diverse climate conditions, with proof-of-concept delivery expected by March.
Elsewhere, a roundtable discussion in the Sustainability Business Connect Lounge brought together public sector representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to discuss waste management challenges and opportunities, emphasising recycling, reuse and private sector engagement.
Mahmood Albraheem, Deputy Mayor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, said the Kingdom is prioritising recycling and reuse solutions over imposing waste collection fees, while Eng. Suha Shishani, Executive Director at the Greater Amman Municipality, outlined Jordan’s public-private partnerships and a multi-year plan focused on improving city cleanliness and sustainability.
As discussions concluded, delegates from across the region actively pitched solutions, reflecting the Summit’s core mission of fostering collaboration and driving actionable outcomes.
The World Future Energy Summit 2026, the Middle East’s premier platform for clean energy innovation and sustainability dialogue, runs until January 15 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
