Spotlight on Innovation - Engie at World Future Energy Summit
François-Xavier Boul
VP, Business Development – Renewables, AMEA | Managing Director, North Africa (Morocco and Egypt) & Middle East (GCC), ENGIE
1. You recently exhibited at World Future Energy Summit; could you please tell us about your primary
reasons for being at the exhibition?
As ENGIE, the world leader in low-carbon energy and services, we were proud to participate in the recent World Future Energy Summit. Our primary motivations for attending the event were threefold:
Showcasing Our Commitment to Sustainability: WFES is a key platform for advancing innovative solutions for the energy transition. We highlighted ENGIE’s leadership through investments in renewable energy, battery storage, onsite utilities, energy efficiency solutions, and decarbonization strategies.
Engaging with Industry Leaders: The Summit enabled us to connect with key players in the global energy sector, including policymakers and potential partners. These interactions facilitate collaboration on solutions and sharing best practices.
Demonstrating Multifaceted Energy Solutions: We showcased our unique decarbonized solutions for governments, cities, and industries, supporting their net-zero journeys. Our regional projects span various industries, including:
- Gas as a Transition Fuel: With over 40GW of installed gas power globally, ENGIE supports the integration of renewables and stabilizes electricity networks.
- Pioneering Renewable Energy: We developed the first utility-scale corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in Saudi Arabia with a 30 MW captive solar project for NADEC.
- Sustainable Water Production: ENGIE contributes to water security with a desalination capacity of 1300 MIGD and the Yanbu 4 IWP, which produces 450,000 cubic meters of clean water daily using solar-powered reverse osmosis technology.
- Sustainable Communities: The Al Zeina development in Abu Dhabi achieved a 73% reduction in water heater energy consumption using our innovative hot water pumps.
- Regional Expertise: Our 30-year presence in the region includes energy efficiency projects like reducing consumption by 30% at Masdar City.
2. Were there any particular announcements or exciting meetings that took place during that week that you would like to share with us today?
Our team had a productive week engaging in discussions and interviews about renewable energy and sustainable solutions. Highlights from the WFES Dailies interview include:
- Tripling Renewables: ENGIE promoted the ambitious "tripling renewables" initiative, emphasizing financial stability, public-private investments, infrastructure development, and value chain collaborations to achieve this target.
- Balancing Ambition with Attainability: We discussed strategies for implementing commercially viable low-carbon solutions in the short term (e.g., on-site solutions, solar) and long term (e.g., hydrogen), considering regional and industry challenges.
- Supply Chain Shifts: Strategies for promoting sustainability throughout the supply chain were explored, from sourcing materials to product distribution.
- Global Collaboration and Implementation Partnerships: We highlighted the importance of partnerships to move beyond strategy and implement solutions effectively and at scale.
3. Using this platform to connect with the industry, what would you like to let our network know about your organization?
We're excited to continue conversations with our industry network, showcasing our commitment to partnering with regional governments and organizations for a greener future. Our operations are driven by:
- Decarbonization: Investing in solar, wind, on-site utilities, desalination, and green hydrogen, aiming for 80GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
- Environmental Stewardship: Prioritizing water management and biodiversity conservation with energy-efficient, low-carbon technologies.
- Innovation and Technology: Leading in battery storage and renewable projects, with strong investments in R&D and digital transformation.
- Talent Development: Fostering skill development, gender parity, and educational programs to cultivate local talent.
- Operational Excellence: Ensuring reliability and efficiency through advanced asset management, performance optimization, and a strong safety culture.
ABOUT ENGIE
ENGIE Solutions provides sustainable energy and service solutions for cities, communities, industries, and properties to enable them in their Net Zero Carbon journey. ENGIE Solutions aims to reduce our customers’ greenhouse gas emissions, with a target of 45 million tons of CO2 equivalent avoided each year by 2030.
A wholly owned subsidiary of the ENGIE Group, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services owning and operating over 105GW of power assets in over 31 countries, ENGIE Solutions is your ally in offering decarbonization solutions through customized business models financed by ENGIE. With our global experience, we work with industries, cities, and local authorities in the GCC to provide tailored energy-efficient solutions. Our unparalleled decarbonization expertise and targeted innovative solutions deliver the highest safety standards and operational excellence around the globe.