24th World Energy Congress Day 4 Highlights

12 sept 2019 / DAY 4 – INNOVATION: THE PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY

The fourth and final day of the 24th World Energy Council in Abu Dhabi focuses on energy innovation and innovators.

START-UP ENERGY TRANSITION: THE POWER OF THE BOLD

What are the key characteristics, predictions, and insights of the world’s top energy start-ups and entrepreneurs? What are the new business models, technologies and solutions at the forefront of the energy transition? The winners of this years’ Start up Energy Transition Award from across the globe illustrate the power of the bold and demonstrate why innovation is key to a successful energy transition.
 
Gina Domanig moderator, Andreas Kuhlmann, Chief Executive of the German Energy Agency (DENA), Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation & The Future at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Divine Nabaweesi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Divine Bamboo, Richard Romanowski, Executive director, Planet Ark Power, Jakob Hornbach, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder,  Bodawerk and Thomas Chrometzka, Chief Strategy Officer, Enapter.

CLOSING PLENARIES

A moving plea for climate change action from the Council’s Future Energy Leaders. A heartfelt farewell to outgoing Council Chair, Younghoon David Kim, followed by an inaugural speech by incoming Chair, Jean-Marie Dauger. Closing remarks by Dhmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation included an invitation to the next World Energy Congress, which will take place in St. Petersburg in 2022.
 
Dr. Christoph Frei, Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer of the World Energy Council, Angela Wilkinson, Senior Director, Scenarios and Business Insights of the World Energy Council, Dr. Mike Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Gina Domanig, Managing Partner & Chief Executive Officer at Emerald Technology Ventures, Helima Croft, Managing Director and Global Head of Commodity Strategy, RBC Capital Markets, Younghoon David Kim
Chair of the World Energy Council, Jean-Marie Dauger, Co-Chair of the World Energy Council, Dhmitry Kozak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei
Minister of Energy and Industry, United Arab Emirates.

PITCH PERFECT: BEST OF THE START-UP ENERGY TRANSITION

In cooperation with the German Energy Agency, dena, 80 best-of-the-best Start-up Energy Transition Awards finalists from across the world share their innovative solutions at one of the conference’s last plenary sessions. 
 
Jon Dee, Founder and Managing Director of the DoSomething Foundation, RE100, Charles Vaslet Partner at Emerald Technology Ventures, Christopher Smith, Managing Director at Energy Innovation Capital, Jose Medardo Cadena Mosquera, Director of Integration, Access and Energy Security at Organización Latinoamericana de Energía (OLADE), Julia Padberg, Investment Manager at SET Ventures, Michele Fiorentino, Chief Investment Officer at ADNOC, Dr. Mike Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Power Research Institute, Rob Genieser, Partner at Etf Partners, Rodney John Alla, Former Partner, 8 Rivers Capital, Rokas Peciulaiti, Managing Partner at Contrarian Ventures, Stephane Villecroze, Managing Partner at Demeter.

CONGRESS MINISTERIAL REFLECTIONS OF THE WEEK: ENERGY FOR PROSPERITY

Closing Insights from the 24th World Energy Congress

Dr. Christoph Frei, Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer, World Energy Council discussed with 

H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry of the United Arab Emirates and 

H.E. Alexander Novak, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.

BE A CEO FOR THE DAY: A LIVE SIMULATIONS

Participants had the chance to role play as CEOs of an energy company needing to improve their company’s financial performance. The simulation game helped players identify good investment opportunities as part of the decision making process.
 
Benoit Laclau, Partner, Global Energy Leader at EY moderated, Fay Shong, Oil and Gas Digital Strategy Leader, Americas at EY and Thierry Mortier Partner, Global P&U Innovation Leader at EY.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Innovation has taken center-stage during the Congress. While the energy transition is accelerating on many different fronts, regulatory framework and legislation is lagging behind innovation, discouraging investors. There is consensus that the future is decarbonised, but the road is fraught with uncertainty. Leaders must come together, take responsibility, and be dedicated to change.